Enugu govt vows to make state business hub, The program is being jointly run by the World Bank, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum etc.
To establish Enugu as an economic hub, the state government has reaffirmed its commitment to keep de-risking investments and enterprises inside the region.
The administration claimed that by transforming the state into a business-friendly environment guided by global best practices, greater economic results would be achieved, assisting in the realization of the goal of increasing the GDP from the current $4.4 billion to $30 billion through private sector investment.
During the Public Sector Consultation Meeting to review the 2024 Enugu State Business Enabling Reforms Action Plan (BERAP), organized by the Authority, Office of the State Focal Person on Ease of Doing Business Reforms, and the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), held in Enugu, Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, Managing Director/CEO of the Enugu State Investment Development Authority, provided the assurances.
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The program is being jointly run by the World Bank, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, and the State Governments, according to Ogbu, who also serves as the Focal Person on Ease of Doing Business Reforms and SABER. Ogbu also noted that Enugu State has since embraced the program.
He emphasized that the administration led by Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah was guided by the following principles: disruptive innovation, optimal performance, traceability and accountability, transparency, and participatory monitoring and evaluation.
E-governance and transparency were recognized by the MD as the cornerstones of Governor Mbah’s administration, even guaranteeing taxpayers that their funds would be used wisely for the sake of the state.
In keeping with the government’s commitment to promoting small and medium-sized businesses as well as agriculture to boost the state’s GDP, he said the state was creating a grievance resolution mechanism where investors could lodge complaints or make requests about their businesses and demand solutions through the One Stop Investment Centre at the State Investment House.
In line with Governor Peter Mbah’s administration’s commitment to transparency, Dr. Ogbu-Nwobodo stated that the Draft Enugu State Business Enabling Reforms Action Plan (BERAP)-2024, which consists of eight business-enabling reform areas, aims to improve the state’s business environment by eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks and making it easier for the private sector to conduct business.
The Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nsukka Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NCCIMA), the Enugu Coalition of Business and Professional Associations (ECOBPA), and the 9thmile Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (9CCIMA), among other organizations, praised the Governor Mbah administration for its proactive efforts in turning the state’s fortunes around and pledged to work in tandem with his administration.
Once the forum has completed the necessary procedures of confirmation and approval by the Enugu State Executive Council, it is anticipated that a workable plan will be developed and released for investors and the general public on the state website.
Important participants in the event included the DG of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Uchechukwu Mbah; the DG of the Nsukka Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Uchenna Nnadi; Arc. Onyekachi Ezeugwu, Vice Chairman of the Enugu Coalition of Business and Professional Associations (ECOBPA); Mr. Christopher Amadi, President of the Small and Medium-Term Enterprises Promotion and Training Associations (SEPTA); and Engr. Emmanuel Aroh, President of the Association of Non-Bank Microfinance Institution of Nigeria (ANMFIN).
