Ahead of the celebration of his 2 years in office in May 2025, the Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria have commended the efforts of the administration of Governor Peter Ndubisi Mbah over his infrastructural development.
The Guild, who spoke through their members, Dr. Ambrose Igboke, Dr. Chuddy Anyianuka, Mr. Umeh Clinton, and Dr. Obasi Chikezie, during the media Conclave radio show, hosted by Uchenna Cyril Anioke PhD, and held on Saturday at Solid 100.9 FM, Enugu, engaged in robust discussions regarding the state of the nation, with a particular focus on Governor Mbah’s administration, and praised the achievements of the Governor across some critical sectors.
In his analysis, the Enugu State chairman of the Guild, Dr. Igboke Ambrose, commended Governor Mbah for his ambitious projects, proclaiming that he not only thinks big but also executes on a grand scale.
He highlighted some of the key achievements of Governor Mbah, which include the establishment of Smart Green Schools across the state’s 260 wards, the initiation of tier I and tier II health centres, and the development of technical and vocational schools aimed at bolstering job skills among youth, amongst others.
Dr. Ambrose also pointed out the completion of the long-abandoned Presidential Hotel, the accreditation of Parklane Nursing School, a notable positive shift in the attitude of civil servants towards their jobs, the dualization of Ugwuogo-Ogui roads, the dualization of the Enugu-Abakaliki expressway, the dualization of the Owo-Ikem-Benue road, as well as the diligent payment of pensions to retirees.
He also voiced concerns regarding the enforced monthly three-hour environmental sanitation exercise, which happens every last Saturday of the month, saying it is a disruptive measure that halts daily life across the state.
He urged the government to explore more constructive approaches to environmental management, while also criticizing the traffic light systems, which he said lack nighttime sensor capabilities, leading to potential dangers for motorists when encountering low traffic at night.
Also speaking, Dr. Chuddy Anyianuka acknowledged the improved security measures implemented under Mbah’s leadership. He noted a remarkable reduction in checkpoint-related inconveniences for motorists, contributing to a safer and more efficient transportation system across Enugu State.
He also highlighted the need for regulatory adjustments, specifically on restrictions that prevent keke and buses from operating after 9 PM, saying it requires urgent adjustment due to its harshness on the people.
Dr. Anyianuka argued that, in larger cities, such restrictions are not enforced and urged the government to adapt its policies accordingly.
According to him, “People should be able to move around in the city at whatever time they desire, whether at 2 AM or 3 AM. The responsibility of the government is to provide security. We have been privileged to travel outside this climate, and when you are not mobile, you can still get a vehicle plying about the road at 2 AM or 3 AM. I cannot see why it will be different in a city like Enugu.”
He further urged authorities to ensure adequate surveillance and manpower to fully utilize the existing command and control centre designed for public safety.
Dr. Obasi, on his own part, raised concerns about water accessibility. He advocated for an improved pipe-borne water supply across Enugu, particularly in areas lacking reliable access such as Emene, Thinkers Corner, Monarch, Premier Layout, Ubaka, New Gra, Nkwo-Nike, Ugwuaji, amongst others.
He suggested a collaboration with private water distribution sectors to facilitate better service delivery and also emphasized the need for providing residential quarters for health workers, which he said will enable them to serve effectively while minimizing commuting costs.
Dr. Obasi also called for a comprehensive plan to reduce poverty rates in the state. He also urged the government to track educational outcomes and provide job opportunities for school leavers.
“The easiest and the roughest way to know how many jobs you need to create in a state is to look at the number of people that came out of JSS3 each year; those are people who we can say are out of basic education and they are free to go into the labour market. If you use the number and know that some continued with SS3 and some of them went to university, the university will graduate them. That will give you the idea of the minimum jobs you will create in a year and that will be leading you to that zero poverty count.”
He went further to also suggest the inauguration of an integrated vigilante system that will enable local informants to be trained and given incentives for information sharing, thus ensuring their safety in the process.
Speaking on the importance of tax reforms, Mr. Clinton Umeh called for fairer tax collection practices that consider the plight of low-income earners, especially hawkers in the state. He cautioned against victimization in tax collection and urged for the institution of a system of accountability, which will empower tax collectors while still ensuring that the administration remains responsive to citizens’ needs.