I’ll complete Eastern rail line, Tinubu vows
Tinubu gave the assurance at an interactive session with South East leaders in Enugu
President Bola Tinubu says his administration will complete the Eastern Rail line connecting Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.
Tinubu gave the assurance at an interactive session with South East leaders in Enugu during his visit to the state on Saturday, Mr Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement.
The President also pledged that his administration would support the development of the Anambra Basin as a significant energy reserve.
The basin is estimated to hold up to 1 billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas.
“On the support of the gas infrastructure. Sure, gas is an alternative to petrol. There is no wasting of time than to invest more in it. We will do it together, and I am lucky I have good governors,” he said.
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President Tinubu praised Gov. Peter Mbah for his development model and philosophy after inaugurating several projects executed by the state government.
He pledged that the federal government would continue to support Enugu and other states in their development efforts.
Among the projects inaugurated by the President are 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 performed the virtual commissioning of other notable projects from the Enugu State Government House.
At the inauguration of the Command-and-Control Center, the President said investment in security would bring rapid development.
“This is a profound demonstration of what we can do together. It reassures me that more revenue going to the sub-nationals and local government is not a waste. It is for development.
“We have committed leaders like Peter Mbah taking Enugu on the path of 21st-century development, taking Enugu to greater heights, and building our tomorrow today,” he said.
President Tinubu further lauded the governor, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for demonstrating an irrevocable commitment to human development.
“I don’t care which party you come from; you are my friend. Alex Otti of Abia State is also doing very well. It is not about the differences in languages and place of birth.
“No one of us has control of the mother tongue. God created us, and you can find yourself in Enugu, Onitsha or Lagos.
“We are all members of one huge family called Nigeria, but we live in different rooms in the same house.
“We must build this house to satisfy our immediate and future needs,” he said.
Mbah commended the Tinubu administration for establishing the South East Development Commission and liberalising the electricity sector through the Electricity Act (Amendment).
“Your Excellency, your credential as a true federalist stands out brightly, and the legacies thereof will long earn you resounding accolades.
“In signing the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, you liberalised electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. That singular act will consistently rank as an enduring legacy.
“It is noteworthy that Enugu State was the first sub-national to which the NERC ceded regulatory oversight of the local electricity market. That reflects how swiftly we are pursuing our goals,” he said.
Enugu residents hail Tinubu’s visit
Some residents of Enugu State have hailed President Bola Tinubu for visiting the state to inaugurate projects done by Gov. Peter Mbah on Saturday.
They said the visit would deepen further collaboration and understanding between the Federal Government, Enugu State Government and the South-East in general.
BRANDECONOMY reports that some of the projects inaugurated by Tinubu in the state include Airport-New Haven – Bisalla and Okpara Square roads built by the Mbah administration.
Other projects include completed and equipped Enugu Smart Green Schools, the completed multi-auditorium and multi-functional Enugu International Conference Centre, State-of-the-art Command and Control Centre as well as 150 patrol vehicles fitted with AI-embedded surveillance cameras.
A trader, Mr Okwy Okoh, said Tinubu did well for coming to Enugu to inaugurate projects built by the governor.
“This means that he loves the projects our governor is doing. Mbah did his best as he has constructed roads, Smart Green Schools and solved water challenge in Enugu.
“By coming here, Tinubu has shown that Mbah and Enugu people are in his heart and we thank him for the visit,” he said.
Antonia Ogbu, the President, National Council for Women Society, Enugu, expressed happiness over the visit, saying it showed that Tinubu has love for the governor and Enugu people.
“We are happy that he came to Enugu and with the infrastructural development he saw, I know that Mr President is happy with what our governor is doing,” Ogbu said.
A student Ejike Alumona, added that Tinubu’s coming to the state tells a lot politically, economically and otherwise, since he was not coming for tourism but to inaugurate projects.
“This shows that Gov. Mbah is up and doing in the last 18 months. It is kudos to him and his team.
“Tinubu’s coming might open some more doors of development for Enugu as there could be federal government partnership and interaction that could be beneficial to Enugu and Igbo in general.
“It could also be an opportunity for Mr President to visit collapsed Enugu and Port Harcourt expressway way bridge,” he said.
“Though I witnessed presidential visit when President Goodluck Jonathan visited Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu. Today again, I am happy I have opportunity to witness another president’s visit,” he said.
Mr Ogugua Emehelu, the Special Assistant to Gov. Mbah on Works and Infrastructure, described the visit as a very great day in the lives of Enugu people.
“It is not everyday that Mr President visit a state, it is special because it cuts across party line, as it has to do with good governance.
“It is also a testament for the enormous work of Mbah and his integrity in managing public fund. It shows that when you do great work, it will speak for you,” he said.
