GOV. PETER MBA'S ECONOMIC GRAND PLAN: AGENDA FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
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By Okenwa Cyril

So far so good is a common parlance. Quite commendably and, as expected, Governor Peter Mba's government has taken off with the right step and in the right direction. Appealing to President Tinubu for the release of Nnamdi Kanu among other initiatives so that Mondays be put back on track for economic activities, reaching out to the federal government to become Enugu State's core partner in tapping and developing the vast economic potentials of the state, vigorously commencing the cleaning up of the metropolis, embarking on on-the-spot assessment of all the water stations in the state pursuant to the fulfillment of his campaign promise of ensuring that water scarcity becomes a thing of the past in the metropolis within 180 days into his administration, seeking the federal government's activation of the cargo wing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, seeking British partnership, technical assistance and support for the growth of the state's economy through the hosting of the British High Commissioner to Nigeria to that effect etc are "all things wise and wonderful". All these indicate a purposeful take-off of a government on a mission for rapid, disruptive and transformative change. As an administration, his priorities in the area of economy summarily are to grow the state's GDP from its current size of $4.4 billion to $30 billion in the next eight years and also to achieve zero percent poverty headcount in the state's Poverty Headcount Index.

The new government looks so promising and has the potential to do exceedingly well owing to the fact that in Peter Mba we see for the first time in Enugu State a governor who prepared with a very rich and flamboyant CV, and indeed worked real hard for the job of the governorship, and a man who offers us a novel and unique perspective on governance especially as it relates to today's globally winning politico-economic paradigms. His glowing success story in the private sector, political shrewdness, brilliance, courage, rare determination and leadership skill mark him out as the ideal man to chart a new and auspicious beginning for our dear state. Therefore, I feel and convincingly too, Gov. Mba's administration has just marked the beginning of our state's transformative journey towards the next level of our statehood. This optimism is hinged on his visionary, audacious and result-oriented approach to leadership. And naturally, expectations are high on all fronts and Ndi Enugu expect the new administration to fire on all cylinders as it begins the process of addressing some of our pressing problems bordering on economy, security, infrastructures, and even integration and cohesion after a heated electioneering season.

Against the foregoing, this discourse focuses on the appraisal of Gov. Peter Mba's economic blueprint and pronouncements to enable us gain deep insights into his economic concept album and thoughts about the essential roles of government in economic growth and development especially in this economically-challenged time. As an aspirant then, and now the governor, Peter Mba has harped on Digital Economy, the gains thereof and the need for Enugu State not to be left behind in this trending paradigm in economic objectivity. He has not hidden his advocacy for Digital Economy as a modern and prevailing economic vehicle, the reason he has set out to run a very smart and innovative government that engenders, nurtures and supports Digital Economy. To precipitate digitalism in Enugu State's economy, Gov. Mba plans to empower a minimum of 40,000 youths annually on Information and Communications Technology, ICT. To achieve this according to the governor, the state government shall establish a cluster of innovation and incubation centres across the senatorial districts of Enugu State. Digital Economy provides those limitless, quick, easy and guided connectivities and inter-connectivities between buyers and sellers of goods and services across the globe. It interestingly has reduced the wide world of sellers and buyers of goods and services to a global village of economic possibilities. It is the stimulus for accelerated economic growth in today's computer/internet-driven world.

Gov. Mba has earmarked that Enugu State's financial base has to be extended and broadened, and that its economy shall be private sector driven. Also he declared that emphasis shall be on the Ease of Doing Business factoring infrastructural development, security, review of taxation policies, construction permits and contract performance enforcement as key enablers. The governor's idea of all this is that his government shall ensure a more enabling environment for private capital and foreign investors. This implies that the business environment aided and buoyed by the state government has to become more viable and competitive in order to make the desired progress. The governor has pledged to improve on the Ease of Doing Business in most profound manner and within the shortest possible time.

Further still, His Excellency seeks leveraging on the financial sector to promote industrial development in a risk-minimized, orderly and result-oriented manner. He strongly seeks a comprehensive transformation of the state's financial sector through the adoption of modern technology, improvement in credit facilities and other financial services to the private sector businesses and individuals, increase in insurance penetration level to enhance risk taking as well as improvement in pension coverage. It is commendable much as it is convincing that Governor Peter Mba is putting up a crack reform package that is aimed at strengthening and de-risking the sector as an engine and propeller of economic growth and development in line with modern and prevailing paradigms. All these shall be premised on sound and disciplined fiscal policies.

His Excellency, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mba advocates strongly for a mutually rewarding partnership between the government and the private sector to promote the attainment of mutually agreed goals. The state in partnership with the private sector will set and agree on symbiotically-reinforcing economic and social goals to be met under the supervision and guidance of the state through government-approved incentive schemes. The goals when set in motion would normally include production target, export target, employment amongst others. All these would be encouraged and accelerated by the industrialization agenda of his government. The governor is keen on industrialization and reindustrialization, and export promotion as strategies for economic growth. In his manifesto, he declared there shall be a viable Industrial Estate in the state. I think we are in for an era when ageing and moribund industries both government-owned and private-owned shall be revived, rejuvenated and modernized, and surely new ones established. This initiative engenders among other economic developmental gains, employment.

Gov. Mba's pledge to unlock Enugu State's Rural Economy is visionary. And making it attractive surely is hugely part of his administration's urbanization agenda. Rural Economy essentially holds a crucial and significant place in Economics. Nature generously and richly favoured Enugu State's rural economy with economic advantages in variables as agriculture, forestry, fishery, mining, enormous labourer base (both skilled and unskilled) etc. Gov. Mba has severally said that his administration shall vigorously pursue Agricultural Revolution. Agriculture is a critical sector of the economy. Enugu State has a very high index of agrarianness supported by appreciably arable land and agro-friendly climate. The state has the potential to pride itself in food security and agro-economy. Copious in the mind of Gov. Mba in the issue of unlocking the rural economy is bridging the infrastructure gaps between the rural areas and the urban areas. No wonder he emphasized a 10,000 km road agenda in his manifesto. Roads, efficient and reliable power supply, effective communication networks, loan schemes and grants, variegated trainings on skills etc are critical in meaningfully harnessing and unlocking the rural economy. All these and many more the governor has indicated the readiness to put in place pursuant to unlocking the rural economy of Enugu State.

Gov. Mba targets improved Internally Generated Revenue base of Enugu State. He aims to achieve less or no dependence on federal government allocation. Through his well-articulated policies, all the state's dormant revenue sources are to be reactivated, active ones made more viable and hitherto non-existent ones created and enhanced. He hopes to tackle corruption and plug all lopeholes in this key area.

As Gov. Mba has sought, the federal government is expected to reinvent itself in the state in a greater dimension for collaborative efforts with Enugu State Government at exploring, tapping and development of vast economic potentials in Enugu State. The Nigerian Coal Corporation, Enugu is begging for attention. The coal deposit in the belly of Enugu State's soil remains the best of its kind due to its low sulphur content. Also the Natural Gas recently discovered at Emene yearns for drilling and production take-off. It is expected that the federal government as soon as possible forges a take-off framework with the Enugu State Government in order to key the oil and gas resources into the national grid of petroleum industry for industrialization, job creation and other inherent economic benefits to the state and the federal governments.

A careful analysis of Governor Peter Mba's economic blueprint exposes a well-articulated and calculated economic reform agenda aimed at redefining what should be the roles of government in economic development and growth in view of a developing country specifically in this highly digitalized modern time. It indicates that the governor is carefully and studiedly inclined to the creation of a developmental state that is propelled by digitalism in a strong bid to catch up with, or rather to borrow possible leaves from the West and some Eastern states like China, Singapore, South Korea, etc.

In the context of a developing country, Governor Peter Mba's economic agenda is targeted at economic prosperity, progress, and development for Enugu State at a period the whole world is in a rat race for economic survival and advancement given various debilitating global economic crises and challenges. He aims for the maximum exploration and utilization of all known economic potentials of Enugu State in terms of both human and material resources. As an economic genius and natural go-getter, he believes in the possibility of indexing Enugu State as the most economically attractive state in Nigeria within the shortest possible time in his tenure. And I believe he can!

Tomorrow is here!

OKENWA CYRIL writes from Lagos.

Grand plan on a stolen mandate??


Dey play

Which grand plan? Don't raise your hopes too high

May Peter Mbah succeed and bring glory to Nkanuland in particular and Enugu state in general...Amen!

We are watching him

I just cannot take any SE governor calling for the release of IPOB terrorist leader seriously as a person who means well for his state.

If they can not list the plans in bullet points, best believe there is no plan .