BY ISAAC NWOYE, AFFA
It was with berthed air of excitement that everyone invited to the inauguration of the 60-man transition committee of the governor-elect, Dr Peter Mbah, waited patiently for the ceremony to kick off. The programme, of course, attracted the who is who, desirous of solid transformation agenda for the Coal City State.
Given the seriousness of governance and the unwaivering commitment to deliver the dividend of democracy to the good people of Enugu State, not a few were surprised at the avalanche of professionals put together by His Excellency. In the committee were first class technocrats, experts and captains of industries and successful top managers in what serious observers have called ‘touch of hope’.
At the end of the presentation and inauguration of the team at the old government lodge on Thursday April 27, no one was left in doubt that Dr Peter Mbah was well prepared to take Enugu State its pinnacle and epochal development never witnessed since the creation of the State. This evidently lays credence to the fact that Enugu people made the right choice in the gubernatorial election of March 11th.
Dr Peter Mbah has shown without iota of doubt that he is seriously prepared for the task of returning Enugu State to its pride of place in the Eastern region of Nigeria. It is obvious that he is in a haste to do the simple, though complex but strategic things that Enugu people desired going forward.
Already, as I write, expatriates in water production and management are already in Enugu in order to deliver portable and clean water to Enugu metropolis within the shortest possible time.
Having lived all his life in Enugu, Dr Peter Mbah understands the challenges of development and the recurring problems of failing infrastructure across the length and breath of the State.
The deplorable state of road network and its connectivity across the the 17 local government areas for easy access; top the agenda for the new administration.
From Abakpa to Emene, Trans Ekulu to Uwani, Ogui, Independence Layout, Agbani Road, Iva Valley, Agu Abor and GRA to Onu Asata within the metropolis all desires a face-lift. Other interconnections to rural areas with great agricultural access and movement not left behind, as well. Indeed every nook and cranny of the State need good roads, portable water schemes and independent power plants required for electricity to function optimally.
More strategic in road construction is the need to decongest the roads in Abakpa while creating a link between Trans Ekulu and GRA so as to restore normalcy and reduce the man hour wasted in traffic.
Equally, Emene, Agbani Road, Awkunanuw and Gariki end require extreme face-lift for ease of entrance into Awgwu and Aninri onward the sister states of Imo and Abia states.
The 9th Mile Corner/Udi axis requires reinforcement of traffic management initiatives in addition to good and motorable roads to reduce hardship of entrance into Enugu from Udi and Ezeagu onward Anambra and the Northern states. It may not be out of place to reinvigorate and re-energise the traffic management agency for it to continue to oversee the smooth running of traffic.
The people of Enugu State also expect the industrial revolution of the 9th mile corner economic hub and dry port; for rapid economic expansion of that satellite city. This initiative is long overdue.
We are expectant that the “disruptive module” will certainly capture a lot of initiatives that will create wealth for the youths of the state. Youth empowerment remains a cardinal objective to end youth “restiveness” and halt unemployment.
On the issue of security, we, ndi Enugu, expect a massive investment in the security apparatus of the State. Aside of developing a solid management team and personnel on security, investing on communication gadgets and vans with CCTV across Flash Point areas to track crimes and criminality becomes imperative at this time.
Government should encourage Foreign Direct Investment in industry and agriculture. Opportunities abound in the State for massive development of the agricultural sector. All the cash crops including Cashew, Palm Produce, Mangos and vegetables should be harnessed in such a way that wastes are minimized.
Ease of doing business should be explored while the incidence of double taxation checked and obliterated.
The humongous plans to open up Enugu State for giant strides in development across all sectors should be explored vigorously.