₦airaland Forum

The governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, and the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, yesterday flagged off the construction of 14.5 kilometres of high-capacity transmission pipelines from Nsude to the Terminal Reservoir at Miliken Hill to significantly strengthen water supply to Enugu city.


This was even as the two leaders reinforced the commitment of the governments of France and Enugu State to stronger partnerships in the areas of education, aviation, agriculture, agro-industrialisation and culture, among others.


Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Governor Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the project, supported by the French Development Agency, AFD, under the Third National Urban Water Sector Reform Programme, represented a bold step in his administration’s determination to deliver on his administration’s promise to provide reliable and sustainable water supply to the people of the state.

“For too long, access to clean water has been a challenge. But we are currently changing that story permanently.

“The construction of this critical transmission pipeline will significantly strengthen our water distribution backbone, ensuring that potable water reaches homes, businesses, and institutions across Enugu metropolis efficiently and consistently.

“But beyond the infrastructure, this project is about people. It is about improving public health by reducing waterborne diseases. It is about supporting businesses and driving economic growth. It is about restoring dignity by ensuring that every resident of Enugu has access to safe and reliable water,” he stated.

On his part, the French Ambassador said the government of France, through the French Development Agency, had supported the urban water sector across Nigeria to the tune of $340 million over the past decade.

“So, this particular project reflects the strength of Franco-Nigerian cooperation. It brings together expertise from both countries, with Nigerian and French companies working hand in hand— from design to implementation. This partnership ensures not only high-quality infrastructure, but also knowledge transfer and local capacity building,” Mr. Fonbaustier stated.

He lauded Mbah’s sterling leadership qualities, expressing the readiness of the French Government to partner with Enugu State in many areas the Mbah Administration had blazed the trail.

“I commend you for who you are and what you have achieved to date. I am impressed by your profile, but also your result-oriented action.

“You are a man obsessed with time, timelines, roadmaps, and measures of impact. You want to transform Enugu State. You are a transformer and an entrepreneur. And this has been detected in various areas: railways, roads, airlines. I mean, how did you do that?

“To shape and build up an airline, which is already certified, with a concession for the Enugu airport in a short spell of time, is completely amazing and out of the usual standards in Nigeria. Let us be honest, you are obsessed with supplying basic services to your people,” he stated.

Dr. Gbenga Hashim, a veteran leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has officially resigned from the party, citing persistent internal crises and failed reconciliation efforts.

In a letter dated April 4, 2026, addressed to the PDP Chairman of Usuma Ward, Bwari Area Council, Abuja, Dr. Hashim lamented that the party “has been embroiled in persistent and unending crises for over a year, leading to its complete factionalization into two dominant groups.”

Hashim, a convener of the PDP in 1998 and its first elected Deputy National Publicity Secretary, explained that despite his numerous attempts to restore unity within the party alongside other leaders, the efforts “did not yield the desired results.”

He accused some elements within the party of orchestrating the crisis to weaken the PDP as a credible opposition, potentially undermining its ability to field strong candidates in the 2027 elections. “I cannot, in good conscience, be complicit in actions that undermine democratic values,” he said.

Highlighting Nigeria’s current challenges, Hashim noted the country faces “widespread insecurity, the tragic loss of innocent lives, and an economy in distress, with rising poverty affecting millions.” He added,

“Massacres of innocent people have become a daily occurrence, with over 18,000 killed by terrorist violence in just three years. The economy has crumbled, and crippling poverty has soared.”

Describing the state of the PDP as “disheartening,” Hashim said the party, once founded by some of Nigeria’s most committed democrats, had been weakened by internal divisions and self-serving individuals.

He concluded that it was time to “step aside and pursue a new path,” vowing to work with other patriotic leaders to prevent the emergence of a one-party state and to build a political system that guarantees security, justice, and economic prosperity for all Nigerians.

Dr. Hashim expressed gratitude for the support and cooperation he received from party officials, the Ward Executive Committee, and stakeholders during his tenure.