President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to completing the Eastern Rail Line, which connects Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, as well as supporting the development of the Anambra Basin, a significant energy reserve with an estimated 1 billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas.
The President made this pledge during an interactive session with South East leaders as part of his official visit to Enugu State on Saturday.
Former Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, and Enugu State indigene, Chris Ugoh, raised key issues during the session. Nebo urged the President to prioritize the completion of the remaining sections of the Eastern Rail Line, emphasizing its potential to boost non-oil exports and drive economic growth.
Ugoh highlighted the importance of developing the Anambra Basin, noting its capacity to support power generation and industrial feedstocks. He appealed to the Federal Government to harness this resource for the benefit of the Southeast, the Middle Belt, and the North.
Onyemauche Nnamani, the National Commissioner representing the South East in the Police Service Commission, advocated for modern security strategies in the region, including statewide CCTV systems and patrol cars equipped with surveillance cameras. He criticized the use of roadblocks and checkpoints, calling them inefficient and dangerous for security personnel.
Responding to the requests, President Tinubu said, “The Eastern Rail Line is a work in progress. I inherited some of these critical issues and am committed to resolving them. On the gas infrastructure, gas is a viable alternative to petrol. There is no better time to invest in it, and we will work on it together.”
The President praised the collaborative efforts of the governors and promised to address the concerns raised, saying, “I am fortunate to have good governors to work with, and together, we will achieve our goals.”
President Tinubu commended Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for his innovative development model and philosophy. During the visit, the President inaugurated several state government projects, including the GTC Smart Green School, New Haven/Bisalla Road, the International Conference Center, the Command-and-Control Center, and 150 patrol vehicles equipped with surveillance cameras.
The President also virtually commissioned other key projects and emphasized that investments in security infrastructure would drive rapid development.
“This is a profound demonstration of what we can achieve together. Leaders like Peter Mbah are taking Enugu on the path of 21st-century development. I have seen the technology and innovation you have put in place, and it assures me that more resources to sub-nationals are being effectively utilized,” Tinubu said.
He praised Governor Mbah for his inclusive leadership and expressed his belief in the potential of private-sector expertise in governance. “Peter, we can go places together to build Nigeria. Your commitment to security and development shows that you are working for today, tomorrow, and the future.”
At the interactive session, Governor Mbah described President Tinubu as a true federalist and lauded the administration’s establishment of the South East Development Commission and the liberalization of the electricity sector through the Electricity Act.
He acknowledged the President’s initiatives, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange rate, which have freed up funds for development.
Governor Mbah reiterated his vision of growing Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within four years, with a focus on security, quality education, and affordable healthcare.
He also highlighted his administration’s success in ending the illegal sit-at-home order imposed by non-state actors across the Southeast, ensuring the state’s economic activities remain uninterrupted.
“Our people go to work every day of the week, and we no longer take orders from non-state actors,” Mbah said.
The Governor also explained that his administration is equipping students with 21st-century skills through modern schools introduced in 260 wards and upgrading primary healthcare centers across the state.
President Tinubu commended Governor Mbah’s efforts and assured the leaders that the Federal Government would continue to support development initiatives in the Southeast and across the nation.
“We are all members of one family called Nigeria, living in different rooms of the same house. It is our collective responsibility to build this house for our immediate and future needs,” Tinubu said.