President Bola Tinubu has lauded the transformative leadership of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, describing his administration as a blueprint for leveraging technology to drive security, education, and economic growth. Tinubu made the remarks during his recent state visit to Enugu, where he inaugurated several landmark projects that showcase the state’s commitment to innovation and sustainable development.
Highlighting the deployment of high-tech infrastructure such as a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre and AI-powered security vehicles, the President acknowledged Mbah’s efforts in fostering a secure environment conducive to investment and development. Tinubu praised the governor’s vision of turning Enugu into a model for 21st-century governance.
The president said, “This has assured me of the fact that more revenue going to sub-national and local government is not a waste. It is for development when we have committed leaders like Mbah taking Enugu on the path of 21st century development, to greater heights, building our tomorrow today.
“I cannot forget the sight of those small children that I just met in a green 21st century school.
“We are going further to inaugurate this infrastructural development. I could see the vehicles, gadgets with 21st century technology. Yes, you are indeed planning for today, tomorrow and the future of Enugu.
“It is audacious to have this hall filled with technology and be ready for use to promote investment. One thing we all know, you are a private sector person, we must encourage more private sector to come into politics.”
The President also inaugurated several projects aimed at enhancing education and infrastructure, including 30 fully equipped Smart Green Schools out of 260 under construction, the multi-functional Enugu International Conference Centre, and 90 urban roads in Enugu City.
Governor Mbah, who is also the founder of Pinnacle Oil and Gas, outlined his administration’s ambitious vision to grow Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within eight years. He emphasized the link between security, infrastructure, and economic growth, underscoring the importance of technology in achieving these goals.
He said, “Our goals include growing Enugu State from the $4.4bn economy that it was on my accession to office, to a $30bn economy in the next four to eight years. It also includes the ambition to make Enugu State one of Nigeria’s top three states in GDP terms.
“But we recognise that few things stifle dreams such as we have, and drain life out of a city like untamed criminality – or any hint of it.
“That understanding is evident in the substantial investments we have made in strengthening security in Enugu State.
“The framework of our security system was designed to nip crime in the bud, and react swiftly when there is any breach of security.
“However, a sense of security is not simply instilled through the physical presence of arms-bearing personnel. It is rather reinforced by a system that helps guarantee a sense of security even when the threat of crime is remote.
“This is what our AI-enhanced security initiative, which has led to round-the-clock surveillance of our streets and neighbourhoods across the entire state, is helping us to achieve.
“This statewide CCTV network is operated via this Command and Control Centre commissioned today.”
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