₦airaland Forum

Enugu, EU Strengthen Partnership, As Governor Mbah Receives EU Delegation

The Enugu State Government and the European Union, EU, have committed to strengthening their partnerships across various sectors of the economy.

This was made known during a courtesy visit to the Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, by a delegation of the EU at Government House, Enugu, at the weekend.

The delegation, led by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, also comprised the Ambassador of Belgium to Nigeria, Mr. Pieter Leenknegt, and his Portuguese counterpart, Mr. Paulos Martins dos Santos, among other senior diplomats.

Mignot said the EU was eager to strengthen partnerships with Enugu State in ways that meet the administration’s expectations and align with its vision.

“The purpose of the visit is to meet you, pay you a courtesy visit, to talk about the partnership between the European Union and Enugu State, its potential, and your vision about the future.

“Here in Enugu State in particular, we have been partnering in two sectors, which are education and energy. On energy, we have several projects ongoing. One is Solar for Health, which is implemented by NTU International.

“Enugu is one of the seven states benefiting from this project and under it we will provide technical assistance and funding for the construction of 20 solar microgrids to power 20 primary health centers and 124 small- and medium-size enterprises.

“We also have the Small Hydro Power for Agro-industrial Sectors Project implemented by UNIDO. Finally, we have the Nigeria Energy Support Programme, which is implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation, GIZ,” he stated.

This, according to the envoy, included electrification and investment support, training and capacity building, and the funding of three interconnected minigrids up to the capacity of 1 MW to electrify 1,000 beneficiaries.

He also said that Enugu State was one of the states selected from the six geopolitical zones for the ‘Education and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria, Expand, Integrate, and Strengthen Systems (EISS) to Build Teachers’ Capacity and Resilience’, which is being implemented by UNESCO.

Mignot explained that the programme would see to the training of teachers in the Smart Green Schools till June 2028.

He highlighted the partnership between the EU and the Eastern Nigeria International Film Festival, an annual event in Enugu, noting that the event, whose 2025 edition held in Enugu, saw “teachings by aspiring filmmakers with the grant awarded to the best to implement his project of short films as well as the presentation of some movies.”

Ambassador Leenknegt, on his part, highlighted Belgium’s various economic interests in Enugu State and Nigeria, including Emenite Limited, a joint Nigerian-Belgium venture.

“They have existed here for as long as since 1961. They are definitely delivering high-quality products. It is a company with more than 300 employees from the region and I think it will be good to keep fostering this relationship between Belgium and Nigeria,” he stated.

Speaking, the Ambassador of Portugal emphasised the European country’s interests and exploits in the energy, infrastructure, and agricultural sectors of the Nigerian economy, noting also that “the footprint of the European Union in this country is so huge and multidimensional.”

Mbah, in his remarks, appreciated the EU for its partnership and alignment of its programmes with those of his administration in education, health, and various other sectors.

“I have seen a huge alliance between our vision and projects and the aims and objectives of what the EU is doing, particularly as regards your programmes and projects across Africa.


“It has become necessary to equip Enugu children with knowledge and skills to compete in the global economy; hence, we are investing over 33 per cent of our total budget in education. It is a radical move. We know that if we fail to spend that money and equip these kids, we will pay 10 times the money in future,” Mbah stated.

He invited the EU and its member states to be part of the opportunities in the aviation and energy sectors of Enugu State’s economy, noting that his administration would do everything possible to ensure that investments and businesses succeed in Enugu State.

“We have launched Enugu Air. The international wing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport will soon become operational. That means that we will have more international carriers that will fly from Enugu. We urge you to begin to talk to your home carriers to also begin to think about Enugu.

“We also have opportunities in the gas sector. We are working with the Federal Government to add the gas pipeline, so we are going to unlock the economic potential we have in the subsector gas. We are open for business.”

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Mba just like some other governors in the SE are simply silent achievers.
How I wish other governors across the country would be more after building a lasting legacy for their upcoming generation rather than greedily amassing the people's wealth for their personal political ambition..
Kudos to ndi Enugu!

Since he moved to APC, progressive doors have been opening to his government. That's the advantages of joining a progressive train. Kudos to Enugu state government

Psalmistproject:
Mba just like some other governors in the SE are simply silent achievers.
How I wish other governors across the country would be more after building a lasting legacy for their upcoming generation rather than greedily amassing the people's wealth for their personal political ambition..
Kudos to ndi Enugu!

I wonder how he allowed himself to be intimidated into joining an anti people's party that has proven that they have nothing to offer the masses but rather calamities.
Enugu state have a round peg in a round hole,you vote for the governor at the gubernatorial and at the presidential level,you choose the right individual and party to vote,simple! Not APC!

That is a very nice strategy move as a leader. Kudos

Tabithatim:
Enugu, EU Strengthen Partnership, As Governor Mbah Receives EU Delegation


source

How many civil servants have been employed by Mbah to improve water supply and basic education as well as basic health ratios in Enugu state to compare with European standards?

Is Enugu state better or worse than Lagos State in terms of education, health and water supply ratios

anonimi:
Ratio of public to private schools in Lagos State is one to 22 ― Commissioner
September 4, 2022

The Lagos State government has said the ratio of public to private schools at both primary and secondary school levels in the state is one to 22.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, gave the revelation in her remark at the 2022 edition of the Total School Support Seminar Exhibition (TOSSE) held at Oregun in Ikeja between Thursday and Friday.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/ratio-of-public-to-private-schools-in-lagos-state-is-one-to-22-%E2%80%95-commissioner/

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5v-F81hNTs

mascot87:
Since he moved to APC, progressive doors have been opening to his government.

That's the advantages of joining a progressive train. Kudos to Enugu state government

What is progreThief about removing subsidy to save $84 billion and increasing tax burden on the people to steal instead of employing well paid workers to make government services and public utilities available for everyone?

Stealing our commonwealth to bribe politicians into a one party state capture and buying votes

TimeManager:
The Federal Government has revealed that the elimination of the petrol subsidy under President Bola Tinubu has resulted in savings of over $84 billion, which are now being channelled into the construction and rehabilitation of 40 key road projects across the country over the past two years.

This was disclosed in a policy brief released by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), titled “Two Years Later: Key Benefits of Subsidy Removal,” and made available to journalists over the weekend in Abuja.

The report, which reviewed the outcomes of the subsidy removal since May 29, 2023, noted that the policy averted a looming economic crisis.

It also enabled the Tinubu administration to clear long-standing financial liabilities, increase capital investments, and support the financial stability of state governments.

https://businessday.ng/news/article/84bn-saved-from-petrol-subsidy-now-financing-40-key-roads-report/?amp

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NaijaRoyalty:
…Says Buhari doesn’t have my kind of money

However, Buhari doesn’t have the kind of money I can steal neither does he have the money I can collect. He doesn’t even have the money for Lagos votes. So, whatever I promise, it’s for real and is coming from my pocket. It’s not until I go to Alausa before I get money to give you.”

Addressing APC supporters on the need to deliver votes, Tinubu said handsome cash rewards await those who can deliver votes for the party.

He said he would not make mistakes of the past where people would collect money in advance and not deliver on election day.

Tinubu added, “Those of you that say you come to Bourdillon for mobilisation, it is mobilisation that we are doing here or don’t you understand? Definitely, if you know people in your neighbourhood, our members, how we used to do.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/i-said-i-was-richer-than-osun-state-tinubu-admits/%3famp

mascot87:
Since he moved to APC, progressive doors have been opening to his government. That's the advantages of joining a progressive train. Kudos to Enugu state government

Progress everywhere in the Southeast. There is much more peace and stability now that the IPOB kingpin is no longer a threat. The guy really did the region dirty.

God bless Prophet Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and PM Simon Ekpa and United States of Biafra

Psalmistproject:
Mba just like some other governors in the SE are simply silent achievers.
How I wish other governors across the country would be more after building a lasting legacy for their upcoming generation rather than greedily amassing the people's wealth for their personal political ambition..
Kudos to ndi Enugu!

Igbo governors this period are fantastic, sometimes I wonder if there is any governance in SW of Nigeria apart from singing ON YOUR MANDATE

Fear of china and Russia, EU go learn this time.

AustineE1:
I wonder how he allowed himself to be intimidated into joining an anti people's party that has proven that they have nothing to offer the masses but rather calamities.
Enugu state have a round peg in a round hole,you vote for the governor at the gubernatorial and at the presidential level,you choose the right individual and party to vote,simple! Not APC!

He didn't actually win the governorship election it was the labour party's candidate that won it but it seems he reached an agreement with the apc to decamp later after making him win all his cases at the courts

anonimi:
How many civil servants have been employed by Mbah to improve water supply and basic education as well as basic health ratios in Enugu state to compare with European standards?

Is Enugu state better or worse than Lagos State in terms of education, health and water supply ratios


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Lagos is suffering from overpopulation, with 24 million people in the smallest state in Nigeria. Don't tell me it was the former capital that brought everybody to Lagos; other states are suffering from high internal migration. Abuja has been the capital of Nigeria for 36 years, yet more people live in Lagos than in Abuja.

That's why I am pleased that the SE government are doing a great job in the SE, so that Igbos will return to the SE and decongest Lagos State. I want the Federal Government to now invest in ports, roads and rail in the SE, and I'm pleased that the SE is developing. Maybe the unfortunate violence in the 2023 election might have woken up the Igbo to build their homeland. (BTW, I do not support Tinubu or APC)

Since assuming office, the NPA MD/CEO, Abubakar Dantsoho, has been at the fore-front of decongesting the Lagos ports, shifting emphasis eastwards to ports like Port Harcourt, Onne, Warri, and Calabar. In this report, TOLA ADENUBI looks at efforts geared towards reviving these sleeping ports. Excerpts:

For years, the Eastern ports of Port Harcourt, Onne, Warri, and Calabar had all been left in their shadows despite their proximity to key markets and resource corridors up North, with Lagos ports always being the first choice when it comes to shipping activities.

Despite its potentials, weak infrastructure and limited connectivity kept the Eastern ports underused with Lagos absorbing over 90 per cent of maritime traffic while Eastern facilities ran below a third of their capacity.

But as at today, that story is beginning to change. Under the leadership of Abubakar Dantsoho, the eastern ports are beginning to be repositioned as competitive gateway by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). For shippers, the benefits are obvious- shorter turnaround times, closer access to the South-East and North-Central industrial clusters, lower transportation costs, and the ability to move agricultural and mineral products more efficiently.

All these are aimed at deepening Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) regime.

To demonstrate his hands-on approach, the NPA MD/CEO has embarked on a series of tours focused on driving investment into the Eastern Ports. These tours have started to yield expressions of interest for Rivers, Calabar, and Burutu Ports. One of these WAS the recently celebrated call of the wholly Nigerian-owned MV Ocean Dragon at Onne’s West African Container Terminal (WACT) on July 31, 2025.

With a 349 TEU capacity, the MV Ocean Dragon shall be plying routes across West, Central, and Southern Africa, exemplifying the “Nigeria First” policy and pronouncing Nigeria as a key player in intra African trade. Through these efforts, the NPA is showing its commitment to integrating Nigerian producers with global markets and maximising the immediate benefits of the proximate African trade corridor by water.

https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025-09-04:newsml_ZawKjwK0:0-sng-nigeria-npa-to-decongest-lagos-ports-targets-improved-vessel-traffic-eastward/

Psalmistproject:
Mba just like some other governors in the SE are simply silent achievers.
How I wish other governors across the country would be more after building a lasting legacy for their upcoming generation rather than greedily amassing the people's wealth for their personal political ambition..
Kudos to ndi Enugu!

Our biggest problem in Enugu is water if MBA succeeds in giving us water 70% of Enugus problem will be solved

sulaak:
Lagos is suffering from overpopulation, with 24 million people in the smallest state in Nigeria. Don't tell me it was the former capital that brought everybody to Lagos; other states are suffering from high internal migration. Abuja has been the capital of Nigeria for 36 years, yet more people live in Lagos than in Abuja.

What is the basis of the huge Lagos IGR if not the overpopulation

Mrfeel:
Our biggest problem in Enugu is water if MBA succeeds in giving us water 70% of Enugus problem will be solved

If Mbah is not reviving water supply like PDP’s Makinde is doing in Oyo State, then why is he being hyped?

What is more basic about governance than water supply

Oyo government restores water supply, assures residents of improved delivery

The Oyo Water Corporation has restored water supply to residents in some parts of the State, after many years of service disruption due to technical challenges faced by the Corporation.

The Corporation added that repairs of leakages and bursts on other water pipelines located within the State are ongoing. Elias Adeojo, the Corporation’s Chairman in a statement said the operations have since commenced at major waterworks and booster stations to complement water supply to Ibadan and environs.

He said the area water supply has been restored to include Molete, Bode, Labiran, Beyeruka, Eleyele axis, Bashorun-Oluwo nla among others. While assuring residents of improved service delivery, he urged them to use it prudently.

Adeojo added that efforts have been put in place to ensure prompt repairs of facilities as soon as they are detected or reported by the public.

https://businessday.ng/news/article/oyo-government-restores-water-supply-assures-residents-of-improved-delivery/?amp

Let's chew on this. The EU is meeting with the State Governor about "the administration's expectations and align with its vision.'

Enough people... what are the expectations of your administration? ... what is their vision? You can't don't know and be shouting "progress". Do let us know. Next ... the EU is a group of European countries.. shouldn't it be meeting with the government of the country? ... and not State officials? What if this governor sells out the State? How are we to benefit? Europe is suffering badly since Niger and others have cut them off . Now they are scrambling for access to alternative resources which we have in Nigeria. Any discussions should be with the FG ... government to government .. not government to state. The government is like the father ... the state the son. If someones wants to buy your ancestral land ... should he be discussing with you or your son? We are to gullible as a people

anonimi:
If Mbah is not reviving water supply like PDP’s Makinde is doing in Oyo State, then why is he being hyped?

What is more basic about governance than water supply

He is working on it though, the water stations are already built in 9th Mile and oji river, distribution is the problem, the water flow was too strong for some of the old pipes the pipes got bursted,they are removing the old ones and replacing it with new ones

anonimi:
What is the basis of the huge Lagos IGR if not the overpopulation

Immensely few Lagosians contribute to the state's IGR. If you think overpopulation is an asset, I will suggest that you open the doors of the SE to the 24 million Nigerians. Lagos needs an IGR of $20 billion, not the measly $3 billion that can barely fund the state's operations.

When I watch YouTube videos of empty Igbo cities, I think it's paradise away from the congestion and hustle of Lagos.

sulaak:
Immensely few Lagosians contribute to the state's IGR. If you think overpopulation is an asset, I will suggest that you open the doors of the SE to the 24 million Nigerians. Lagos needs an IGR of $20 billion, not the measly $3 billion that can barely fund the state's operations.

When I watch YouTube videos of empty Igbo cities, I think it's paradise away from the congestion and hustle of Lagos.

If the overpopulation is not working for the immensely few, then how will they get the money to pay taxes?

Why are other states not generating as much revenue as Lagos does?

What IGR did Mobolaji Johnson and Jakande generate to fund the operations of Lagos State far better in government services and public utilities several decades ago? Did the duo squeeze out $20 billion from the masses?

Why are you suggesting that I open the doors of south east Nigeria? Why are you not suggesting that I open the doors of the other five regions? What is the rationale behind this choice of yours

anonimi:
If the overpopulation is not working for the immensely few, then how will they get the money to pay taxes?

Why are other states not generating as much revenue as Lagos does?

What IGR did Mobolaji Johnson and Jakande generate to fund the operations of Lagos State far better in government services and public utilities several decades ago? Did the duo squeeze out $20 billion from the masses?

Why are you suggesting that I open the doors of south east Nigeria? Why are you not suggesting that I open the doors of the other five regions? What is the rationale behind this choice of yours

Open the door of the SE and have the overpopulation of Lagos, then you will get Lagos IGR, which will make you happy.