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Gov. Mbah: Enugu to generate 1,000MW from Coal
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, said coal deposits in the state would be used to generate 1,000mw of power, and would not be treated as a stranded asset without adequate compensation.
Mbah explained that coal deposits in the state have about 0.5 sulphuric content, saying he was counting on technology to make the impact of coal utilisation on the environment minimal.
Mbah spoke on Thursday in Lagos when he was the guest of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) “Meet the Governor Series,” where he presented a business case for investing in Enugu State.
He said: “We cannot treat our coal as a stranded asset, particularly the Enugu coal, which is a premium coal.
“Our target is to see how we can use our coal to generate at least 1000 megawatts of power. We do have technology today that makes coal utilisation less adverse to the environment. Essentially, that is the direction for us.
“Coal deposits in Enugu have less than 0.5 per cent sulphur content. For a lot of coal, if you have 1.0 per cent, you are still okay. But we have 0.5 per cent.
“Our coal is also very good for fire power plants due to its high calorific value. So, we are on that, and we are not going to warehouse our coal resources.
“However, if we have to warehouse or treat coal as a stranded asset, then there has to be a conversation on compensation.”
Mbah also said that his administration had cut the crime rate in the state by 80 per cent and was putting infrastructure in place to attract three million visitors per year.
“Businesses are not designed to absorb security challenges. So, we have to get that out of the way. That is why we invested hugely in the area of security to build infrastructures that will enable us to defeat criminal activities.
“Today, in Enugu, we have reduced the crime rate by over 80 per cent,” he said.
Mba revealed that in furtherance of tourism contribution to the state’s economy, he completed the Enugu International Conference Centre, ICC, which hosted 20,000 participants during the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference, while the ICC 5-Star Hotel was nearing completion and would be delivered soon.
“Enugu naturally lends itself to tourism. We are building the Cross of Hope, which is something we want to put in place to attract religious tourism.
“The highest point in Enugu State is about 580 metres above sea level, and we are bringing a massive cross of about 100 metres to put on its highest point.
“Our plan is to bring in three million visitors. So, we worked with an investor to get the concessioning of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
“Hopefully, the international wing of the airport will be operational by the first quarter of 2026. We are also investing in building the cargo terminal.
“We are looking at bringing in an additional six aircraft for Enugu Air for the Christmas season. We are obviously going to expand very quickly because we have surpassed our projections within one month of operation,” he said.
The governor added that the state would have four branded hotels by the end of next year. “If you are expecting three million visitors, hotels will be in huge demand,” he said.
The President of NBCC, Mr. Abimbola Olashore, in his welcome address, said that the timing of the “Meet the Governor Series” could not have been more fitting because Enugu had become a state on the move under Mbah’s administration.
“We have seen bold steps in digital governance, in infrastructure expansion, and in creative public-private partnerships.
“Each of these signals a state that is not waiting for the future, but actively shaping it.”
Meanwhile, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter, said the United Kingdom (UK) and Nigeria share a dynamic, long-standing and multi-dimensional trade relationship that is currently valued at £7.9 billion, the highest figure since records began and which continues to increase every year.
Baxter added that the United Kingdom is currently the biggest investor in Nigeria, accounting for about 65 per cent of all foreign direct investment (FDIs) flows into Nigeria. He described it as a demonstration of the depth of commitment based on historic ties.
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“Nigeria is also the United Kingdom’s second-largest trading partner in Africa and its largest export market, and in February 2024, we signed something called the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership, which is about trying to make trade smoother between our two countries.
“It is the first of its kind that we have signed with an African country, and in fact, it is the second globally, the first being with India, and you have seen where the trade relationship between the United Kingdom and India has gone. So, we certainly hope for the same sort of trajectory between us and Nigeria.”
Baxter also said that the UK’s “Developing Countries Trading Scheme” would enable over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s exports to the UK to be duty-free.
“All the normal taxes are taken off those items exported from here and imported into the UK. But one of the key obstacles is often standards,” he said, adding that the UK was working with Nigerian standards authorities to help Nigerian companies raise the standards, “because once you are meeting British standards, you are meeting European standards, you are meeting American standards, you have got a much bigger market to export to,” he said.
A cleric, Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has raised alarm after another child was reportedly abandoned at his residence on April 23, 2026.
According to him, the incident occurred earlier in the day when the young boy was discovered at his gate. He stated that he has immediately notified the police and is making arrangements to hand the child over to the appropriate authorities.
The cleric explained that he is unable to take in new children at the moment due to ongoing registration processes with the Ministry of Social Welfare. He stressed that accepting the child would violate existing legal requirements guiding child care and protection.
He further disclosed that his facility is already accommodating over 500 children, making it necessary to strictly adhere to regulations before admitting more.
Chinyere also expressed appreciation to the Federation of International Women Lawyers and the Ministry of Social Welfare for educating him on proper legal procedures.
He reiterated that the child would be transferred to the custody of the Ministry, emphasizing that compliance with the law remains his top priority.
Adewole Emmanuel, a 400-level medical student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has died after reportedly collapsing moments before his final session examination.
Emmanuel’s death was announced on Thursday in a statement by the Ife University Medical Students Association.
The association lamented the sudden departure, describing Emmanuel as a solid pillar of his class.
The statement read in part, “Under the cover of dark clouds, we write to you with the heaviest of hearts to inform you of the passing of one of our own, an integral part of the association and a solid pillar of his class.
While describing the deceased as “a colleague, friend, roommate, and a Part 4 medical student with an undeniably bright future until the time of his passing”, the association added that “This incident is not only sad, but crucially painful as we lost a rising star and a loving member of the IFUMSA family.”
“In honoring his dearest memories, we kindly ask the general public to do without speculations and respect the privacy of the family during this vulnerable period.”
Speaking under condition of anonymity, a senior member of the association said the student died on Wednesday without an underlying ailment.
“He died yesterday. But he hadn’t been sick. He just collapsed and couldn’t be resuscitated,” the source said.
“We were about to write our final exam for the session. And during the process of waiting for the exam, he suddenly collapsed in the college and died.
“It’s just unfortunate as he didn’t have any underlying medical condition. We have contacted his family already.”
..As court srikes out charges against CEO, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Ogbuanu, 3 others, Awards N1m cost against her
An Enugu State Magistrate Court has struck out a four-count criminal charge brought against a Lagos-based cleric and Chief Executive Officer, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Basil Ogbuanu, and three of his workers.
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The court also awarded a N1m cost against Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo, the wife of a former governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, for her failure to prosecute the case.
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The ruling, delivered by His Worship D.K. Ekoh at the Enugu South Magisterial District, followed the persistent absence of the complainants since the inception of the matter in January 2026.
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The defendants, Ezeh Patrick Muoneke, 46; Arinze Onoja, 26; Sedro Theodore, 28; and Basil Ogbuanu, 56, were arraigned on January 20, 2026, on charges bordering on conspiracy, deprivation of liberty, and assault.
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The four- count charge levelled against them read:
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“That you Eze Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Only a ‘m’, on the 16th day of January, 2026 at about 1300hours at Patin-Son Estate, Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu within Enugu Magisterial District did conspire among themselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Deprivation of Liberty and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 496(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count 11: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Mrs Patricia M. Nwobodo ‘f’ against her will from 11hours to 13hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State 2004.
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Count 111: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ against his will from 1100hours to 1300hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count IV: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’ Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ by beating him all over his body and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 252 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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However, during the proceedings on April 15, 2026, the police prosecutor, B.C. Nnadozie, admitted that he had not seen the complainants since the matter started.
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Nnadozie told the court that he could not “manufacture oath” or serve witness statements on the defence as he had no contact with the nominal complainants.
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Counsel for the defendants, Emeka Oko, urged the court to dismiss the charge, noting that his clients, who are busy artisans and a Lagos resident, had suffered by traveling to Enugu for a case the complainants were not interested in pursuing.
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Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Ekoh lambasted the conduct of the complainants, describing it as a clear indication of their lack of desire to prosecute the matter.
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“A complainant whose complaint was investigated and to her knowledge is aware of the charge proffered against the defendants decides to stay in her luxury home without prosecuting her complaint, should as well pay damages to the person(s) she wrongfully complained against”, he said
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The court subsequently struck out the charge and ordered that the defendants must not be re-arrested on the strength of the same complaint.
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The trial Magistrate also granted the application for N1m cost against the complainant to be paid to the defendants.
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