In a bold move to reposition Enugu State as a premier destination for investment, business, and tourism, Governor Peter Mbah on Thursday inaugurated the Enugu State Ease-of-Doing-Business Council, a critical step toward realizing his administration’s ambitious plan to expand the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.
The 25-member council, chaired by Mbah himself, was unveiled during a ceremony at the Government House in Enugu, where the governor reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a pro-business environment capable of attracting and sustaining private investments.
“Investors don’t come out of charity they follow returns,” Mbah stated. “Our task is to ensure Enugu offers a higher return on investment through a supportive, transparent, and efficient business climate.”
The governor highlighted the council as a direct outcome of Executive Order 005, one of his first policy moves post-inauguration, which laid the foundation for eliminating bottlenecks in the business environment.
Key Reforms Driving the Agenda
Mbah outlined several reforms already underway, including:
- ENGIS – Enugu State Geographic Information Systems to streamline land access
- One-Stop Permit Shop – A centralised system for processing business permits and approvals
- Security Investments – Deployment of modern surveillance and rapid response infrastructure
- Infrastructure Development – Ongoing upgrades in transport, digital access, and manpower training
“These efforts are not cosmetic. We’ve been aggressively addressing every major indicator of ease of doing business. The Council is a mechanism to consolidate and drive these reforms to full execution,” he added.
Stakeholders Applaud the Initiative
Representing the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Eric Chime, its 2nd Deputy President, praised the governor’s vision, describing the council as “a giant leap” for Enugu.
“Enugu is now the safest and smartest place to invest. From security to tech infrastructure, the groundwork has been laid. Our role now is to carry this message to the investment world,” Chime said.
Similarly, Sam Otobueze, President of the Nsukka Chamber of Commerce, commended the initiative as timely and globally relevant.
“The world is shifting, and Enugu is aligning with that shift. This council is a gateway to putting Enugu on the global investment map,” he remarked.
Vision for the Future
Governor Mbah concluded by urging the council to work tirelessly to ensure Enugu becomes a national and continental benchmark for ease of doing business.
“With determination and collaboration, we will push Enugu closer to the frontier of states that are truly open for business,” he said.
