Governor Peter Mbah’s vision for New Enugu City, a flagship project to make Enugu State a top destination for business, investment, tourism, and living, has gained momentum.
The Nigerian diaspora community in China’s Guangdong Province has enthusiastically endorsed the project.
During a roadshow in Guangzhou, Governor Mbah assured that critical services in the first phase will be ready within 12-18 months.
According to the governor, the China Communications and Construction Company, handling the project began work on-site in October 2023.
A statement by Governor Mbah’s media office on Wednesday, said that key stakeholders, including Ambassador George Onwuekwe and community leaders, such as President of Nigerian community in Guangzhou, Adebutu Olanrewaju; and the President of the Enugu State Association, Guangzhou, Hyacinth Ezeka, praised Governor Mbah’s innovative drive.
Ezeka said, “We are delighted for such development in Enugu State. If the governor continues this way, Enugu State will be the best in South-East and Nigeria. What he is pushing for is the dream we have had for Enugu for a very long time now. He has big dreams and he will achieve them with our support. I am advising every Igbo person to invest in Enugu. Coming to Enugu to invest is like ‘Aku ruo ulo’.”
While urging the Nigerian diaspora community to invest in Enugu, Olarenwaju noted that although Guangzhou boosts of many successful Nigerian business, Mbah was the first Nigerian governor and government official to come into that region of China to engage with them.
Speaking with newsmen, Mbah expressed happiness over the high interest in the smart city and assured that the government was working with CCCC to build an iconic smart city that would compete with the best anywhere in the world.
“We understand the value of achieving great economic growth, but we also know that it should also happen in a very conducive residential area and that was essentially what gave birth to the New Enugu City.
“So, we have come to market to them the New Enugu City, which is a smart city, and our engagement with diasporans in the Guangdong Province has been a tremendous success because what we have seen here is a huge expression of interest. The people have continually expressed interest to invest and to also come and take up a place at the New Enugu City.
“The new Enugu City is unique. And I think it is the single largest development that is currently going on in the country in terms of real estate. It has the Happy Island that essentially features a wide array of services such as residential area, cutting edge medical centre, and a sports arena. We have the Innovative Park with the innovation industrial park. We also have the ICT for the Innovation Park. We have the Vitality Bay, which is essentially going to house the cooperate headquarters of bluechip companies and also some government offices.
“All the utilities that you need to live there, such as power, water, gas, high-speed internet, are all going to be provided. So, essentially, the City is fully serviced and it is going to be a plug and play for those coming to live there.
“Importantly, we are partnering with CCCC, one of the world’s best. We are also working with a lot of consultating firms from the United kingdom. So, in the next 12 to 18 months, these services would have all been ready. We should start seeing buildings rise up in the next 12 months.”
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of CCCC Nigeria, Feng Yu, has expressed delight at its partnership with the Mbah Administration to actualise the New Enugu City.
“The project has already started. The development is phase-by-phase. We have confidence to bring our technology and to bring development to Enugu State and Igbo people. We believe that with your cooperation we can contribute to change that area,” he said.
