Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — President Bola Tinubu has made a commitment that his administration will support the development of the Anambra Basin, a significant energy reserve estimated to hold up to 1 billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas.
The President gave this assurance at the weekend during an interactive session with South East leaders during his official visit to Enugu State, where he also reiterated his firm commitment to completing the Eastern Rail line connecting Port Harcourt, Aba to Maiduguri.
Tinubu responding to appeals made by former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, and Enugu State indigene, Chris Ugoh, who noted that Anambra Basin has the potential to support power generation and industrial feedstocks, had urged the Federal Government to develop the resource to benefit the southeast and other regions of the country, including the Middle Belt and the North.
While applauding the Tinubu administration for completing the Port Harcourt to Aba section of the Eastern rail line, Nebo appealed to the President to prioritize the completion of the remaining portions of the rail link, emphasizing the rail link’s potential to boost Nigeria’s non-oil exports and economic growth.
Responding to the requests, President Tinubu said, “The eastern rail project is a work in progress. I inherited some of these critical problems and I am committed to solving them. 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.”
President Tinubu also praised Governor Peter Mbah for his development model and philosophy after inaugurating several projects executed by the state government, and pledged that the federal government would continue to support Enugu and other states in their development efforts.
Among the projects inaugurated by the President in Enugu 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.
“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.
“I cannot forget the sight of those children I just met at the Smart Green School. “I have seen the gadgets and vehicles with 21st-century technology. Yes, you are indeed working for today, tomorrow and the future.
“It is audacious to have this home filled with technology, and they are ready for use. To promote investment, I know you are a private sector person, and we must encourage more private sector people to come into politics. When you are sure of security and development and give value for money, investors will be your friend,” he said.
“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.
At the interactive session, Governor Mbah described President Tinubu as a true federalist. He commended the Tinubu administration for establishing the South East Development Commission and liberalizing 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 singing the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, you liberalized 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.
According to the governor, the South East Development Commission will address infrastructure and ecological challenges in the region while complementing the many development strides unfolding across the state.
Governor Mbah reiterated his vision to grow Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within four years, aiming to position the state among Nigeria’s top three states in terms of GDP.
He said this grand dream can be achieved when security is guaranteed, quality education thrives, and citizens can access affordable healthcare, even as he outlined the bold steps taken to enhance public safety in the state, including ending the illegal sit-at-home order imposed across the Southeast by non-state actors.
The governor further told the President that some of the Smart Green Schools commissioned during the state visit were part of the modern schools introduced by his administration across 260 wards to equip students with 21st-century skills.
