RismadarVoice Reporters
October 3, 2026
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has attributed the state’s sharp rise in internally generated revenue to the revival and commercialisation of government-owned assets, maintaining that taxation accounts for less than 13 per cent of the total.
Mbah spoke during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, who were in Enugu for the 2026 All Nigerian Editors Conference and toured several projects undertaken by his administration.
The governor said his administration was pursuing an economic model in which public assets generate revenue, create jobs and support broader economic activity rather than remain dormant.
Enugu recorded ₦406.77 billion in IGR in 2025. Of that amount, ₦51.5 billion, representing 12.6 per cent, came from tax revenue, while ₦355.2 billion, or 87.4 per cent, came from non-tax sources.
Mbah identified revived and commercialised assets including United Palm Products, Sunrise Flour Mill, Niger Gas, Hotel Presidential and the International Conference Centre, among projects contributing to the state’s revenue strategy.
The governor said investments in transportation, tourism, education, healthcare and other infrastructure were being structured to complement one another and expand economic activity across the state.
On education, Mbah said his administration had undertaken the construction of more than 7,000 classrooms as part of its education infrastructure programme. A recent state government account also put the number of constructed and reconstructed roads at more than 1,500 kilometres.
He said the Smart Green Schools initiative was intended to expose pupils to modern skills and experiential learning while improving the quality of basic education.
The administration is also developing tourism attractions, including a zip-line facility and cable-car project, alongside efforts to rehabilitate cultural and historical sites.
Mbah said the projects were expected to stimulate hospitality, transportation, retail and other economic activities as the state seeks to build a larger tourism economy.
The governor also highlighted the New Enugu Smart City and other major infrastructure developments as part of the government’s strategy to generate additional economic activity and revenue.
The state’s 2026 fiscal plan projects IGR of ₦870 billion, with the government expecting revived assets, new infrastructure and other non-tax revenue streams to contribute significantly to the target.
On regional development, Mbah said Enugu was working towards greater security coordination among South-East states, including exploring an integrated command-and-control structure for intelligence and security operations.
He also welcomed the establishment of the South-East Development Commission, saying it could support discussions around regional infrastructure, including gas and railway projects.
In transportation, the governor highlighted efforts to improve air and road connectivity, including collaboration with the Federal Government on major interstate corridors.
Mbah maintained that the administration’s projects were intended to function as economic assets rather than stand-alone infrastructure, with the broader objective of attracting investment, creating employment and reducing the state’s dependence on conventional taxation and federal allocations.
