By Prof. Chiwuike Uba, Ph.D.
Infrastructure development is both a catalyst and a barometer of economic prosperity, social inclusion, and institutional effectiveness. In Enugu State, the ongoing transformation under Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah—especially in road infrastructure—offers a compelling illustration of development governance rooted in planning, citizen responsiveness, and fiscal discipline.
Governor Mbah’s administration is presently executing one of the most ambitious road infrastructure programmes in Nigeria’s Southeast. With over 80 roads under construction or completed—spanning both rural and urban areas—the reforms signal a clear break from previous regimes where road projects were often dictated by political patronage or elite capture. Mbah’s projects are driven by strategic necessity, urban renewal, rural connectivity, and development impact.
The administration has pledged to rehabilitate and construct all strategic roads in the state by 2031, embedding this commitment within its 2025 budget framework. The 2025 budget—valued at ₦971 billion—is notably capital-intensive, with ₦837.9 billion (86 percent) dedicated to capital expenditure. Out of this, ₦213.12 billion is earmarked for works and infrastructure, including ₦55 billion for urban and rural road development. These interventions include high-profile projects such as the Nike–Ugwuogo–Opi dual carriageway and the major 40‑km Owo–Amankanu–Ikem arterial road. The government plans to deliver over 10,000 km of roads by the end of the decade.
In March 2025, the Governor flagged off 141 urban roads across 13 metropolitan zones, sectioned into 17 project lots for rapid delivery. Priority was given to historically underserved zones such as Abakpa, Awkunanaw, Coal Camp, and New Haven—signalling a strong focus on spatial equity and inclusive connectivity. These are matched by 20 rural roads across all three senatorial districts, supported by a ₦183 billion infrastructure allocation approved by the State Executive Council.
The administration’s strategy is rooted in needs-based assessments, long-term institutional vision, and the principle that infrastructure should serve citizens equitably—not elites. This people-first orientation aligns with global best practices and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Historically, infrastructure decisions in Enugu, like in many Nigerian states, were driven by patronage and elite interests, resulting in fragmented delivery, uneven benefits, and eroded public confidence. Governor Mbah’s model represents a stark departure from this tradition.
Before the 1990s, Enugu had a comprehensive, fully asphalted urban road network that supported a functional public transportation system—including taxis and buses operating on a pick-and-drop basis rather than the now-common chartered system. Traffic lights worked, roads were clean and navigable, and the city was structurally efficient. That system collapsed due to years of neglect, poor maintenance, and institutional inertia. Mbah’s infrastructure drive is not just about construction—it represents a broader attempt at urban resurrection.
The proposed introduction of over 200 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses into the state’s transit system further underscores the government’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection. This bold move positions Enugu as a subnational leader in Nigeria’s green transition and carbon footprint reduction strategy, reinforcing the nation’s climate targets under the Paris Agreement. These buses reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower transport costs, and increase predictability in mobility.
Moreover, the government’s Smart Transport Programme includes the reinstallation of traffic lights, lane markings, and road signage that had gone extinct for decades. New transport terminals are under construction in Holy Ghost, Gariki, Abakpa, and Nsukka. The transport sector was allocated ₦41.13 billion in the 2025 budget. The programme also advances other innovations, such as Enugu Air (a cargo terminal PPP) and a youth-focused transport entrepreneurship scheme.
The broader impact of these interventions is profound. Improved rural roads reduce post-harvest losses, enhance access to markets, and stimulate rural industrialisation. Urban renewal promotes property development, facilitates mobility of goods and services, and supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Road construction directly employs thousands of engineers, artisans, and labourers while indirectly benefiting supply chains—from quarry operators to food vendors.
Empirical studies conducted in Enugu show that infrastructure investment positively influences agricultural productivity, SME development, employment creation, and education outcomes. National-level models estimate that effective road infrastructure can increase GDP by between 1.3 and 2.2 percent—making this more than a cosmetic exercise.
A critical enabler of all these achievements is Enugu’s fiscal transformation. The state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) grew from ₦37.4 billion in 2023 to over ₦200 billion in 2024 as presented by the Governor in his 2025 budget speech, and targets more than ₦600 billion in 2025. These gains are driven by digitised tax systems, institutional reforms across over 100 MDAs, increased staffing in tax administration, and collaboration with technical consultants. These revenue milestones underscore the feasibility of executing such ambitious capital projects—if well-managed.
Technological innovation underpins many of these reforms. The deployment of the Enugu Geographic Information System (ENGIS)—a GIS-based land and infrastructure registry—is modernising e‑governance, enabling digital spatial planning, and laying the groundwork for future public tracking of infrastructure projects. Making ENGIS public-facing would boost transparency, allowing real-time access to project status, land data, and development planning.
Yet, for all its laudable progress, the Mbah administration still faces valid concerns around transparency and accountability. Civil society actors, media professionals, and citizens have raised questions about opaque procurement processes and PPP arrangements, limited access to bidding details, vague cost breakdowns, and unclear timelines. These concerns are not trivial.
Transparency in public infrastructure is both a democratic and developmental imperative. Open contracting enhances trust, improves project quality, mitigates corruption, and fosters civic ownership. Enugu State would benefit significantly from adopting civic tech platforms such as the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS), Citizens’ Budget Portals, and real-time public dashboards. Participatory monitoring approaches, such as geocoded reporting, mobile tracking, and citizen scorecards, can bridge the gap between planning and delivery.
The government is already laying groundwork for long-term sustainability. Beyond revenue growth, steps should be made towards performance-based budgeting, asset lifecycle costing, and an infrastructure maintenance policy. Engaging local professionals, artisans, universities, and professional bodies can build local content, encourage innovation, and reduce costs.
Enugu’s infrastructure strategy—by allocating 86 percent of its budget to capital expenditure, surpassing the national subnational average of 60 percent—already sets it apart. However, PPP frameworks remain underutilised. Challenges such as policy inconsistency, FX risks, and regulatory bottlenecks hinder implementation, but opportunities exist in projects like cargo terminals, urban markets, and dual carriageway expansions. The ongoing Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway PPP outline business case provides a reference model.
Environmental sustainability is also key. Enugu’s geography makes it vulnerable to flooding and erosion. The state must integrate climate-resilient designs—such as permeable pavements, elevated embankments, and recycled materials—especially given lessons from the World Bank–supported NEWMAP programme.
Importantly, infrastructure must be inclusive. Road developments should benefit not only urban commuters or industries but also women, children, youth, and rural dwellers. Better roads mean safer school routes, easier access to markets, and improved development outcomes across sectors.
Risk mitigation is another priority. Fiscal discipline must be maintained to avoid debt overhang, especially, given that the States debt stock is currently over 318 billion Naira. Stakeholder engagement must be scaled up to reduce elite resistance and political backlash. And most crucially, maintenance must be institutionalised to prevent today’s roads from becoming tomorrow’s ruins.
Governor Peter Mbah’s infrastructural revolution is not merely a physical overhaul—it is a bold attempt to reshape governance, restore citizen trust, and stimulate inclusive growth. If executed transparently and sustained over time, it could position Enugu as a benchmark for subnational development in Nigeria.
But for this legacy to endure, the roads must lead not only to new destinations—but also to accountability, sustainability, and shared prosperity. Development is incomplete without public scrutiny. Commendation must walk hand-in-hand with questions. Transparency, civic inclusion, and institutional reform are the only guarantees that this transformation will not merely become a monument to political ambition but a lasting framework for social and economic justice.
Governor Mbah has made an extraordinary start. What happens next—and how openly it happens—will determine whether these roads truly connect people to opportunity or simply pave a political legacy. God is with us! Enugu: Peter Mbah’s Road Revolution and the Imperative of Transparency in Public Infrastructure Delivery
By Prof. Chiwuike Uba, Ph.D.
Infrastructure development is both a catalyst and a barometer of economic prosperity, social inclusion, and institutional effectiveness. In Enugu State, the ongoing transformation under Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah—especially in road infrastructure—offers a compelling illustration of development governance rooted in planning, citizen responsiveness, and fiscal discipline.
Governor Mbah’s administration is presently executing one of the most ambitious road infrastructure programmes in Nigeria’s Southeast. With over 80 roads under construction or completed—spanning both rural and urban areas—the reforms signal a clear break from previous regimes where road projects were often dictated by political patronage or elite capture. Mbah’s projects are driven by strategic necessity, urban renewal, rural connectivity, and development impact.
The administration has pledged to rehabilitate and construct all strategic roads in the state by 2031, embedding this commitment within its 2025 budget framework. The 2025 budget—valued at ₦971 billion—is notably capital-intensive, with ₦837.9 billion (86 percent) dedicated to capital expenditure. Out of this, ₦213.12 billion is earmarked for works and infrastructure, including ₦55 billion for urban and rural road development. These interventions include high-profile projects such as the Nike–Ugwuogo–Opi dual carriageway and the major 40‑km Owo–Amankanu–Ikem arterial road. The government plans to deliver over 10,000 km of roads by the end of the decade.
In March 2025, the Governor flagged off 141 urban roads across 13 metropolitan zones, sectioned into 17 project lots for rapid delivery. Priority was given to historically underserved zones such as Abakpa, Awkunanaw, Coal Camp, and New Haven—signalling a strong focus on spatial equity and inclusive connectivity. These are matched by 20 rural roads across all three senatorial districts, supported by a ₦183 billion infrastructure allocation approved by the State Executive Council.
The administration’s strategy is rooted in needs-based assessments, long-term institutional vision, and the principle that infrastructure should serve citizens equitably—not elites. This people-first orientation aligns with global best practices and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Historically, infrastructure decisions in Enugu, like in many Nigerian states, were driven by patronage and elite interests, resulting in fragmented delivery, uneven benefits, and eroded public confidence. Governor Mbah’s model represents a stark departure from this tradition.
Before the 1990s, Enugu had a comprehensive, fully asphalted urban road network that supported a functional public transportation system—including taxis and buses operating on a pick-and-drop basis rather than the now-common chartered system. Traffic lights worked, roads were clean and navigable, and the city was structurally efficient. That system collapsed due to years of neglect, poor maintenance, and institutional inertia. Mbah’s infrastructure drive is not just about construction—it represents a broader attempt at urban resurrection.
The proposed introduction of over 200 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses into the state’s transit system further underscores the government’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection. This bold move positions Enugu as a subnational leader in Nigeria’s green transition and carbon footprint reduction strategy, reinforcing the nation’s climate targets under the Paris Agreement. These buses reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower transport costs, and increase predictability in mobility.
Moreover, the government’s Smart Transport Programme includes the reinstallation of traffic lights, lane markings, and road signage that had gone extinct for decades. New transport terminals are under construction in Holy Ghost, Gariki, Abakpa, and Nsukka. The transport sector was allocated ₦41.13 billion in the 2025 budget. The programme also advances other innovations, such as Enugu Air (a cargo terminal PPP) and a youth-focused transport entrepreneurship scheme.
The broader impact of these interventions is profound. Improved rural roads reduce post-harvest losses, enhance access to markets, and stimulate rural industrialisation. Urban renewal promotes property development, facilitates mobility of goods and services, and supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Road construction directly employs thousands of engineers, artisans, and labourers while indirectly benefiting supply chains—from quarry operators to food vendors.
Empirical studies conducted in Enugu show that infrastructure investment positively influences agricultural productivity, SME development, employment creation, and education outcomes. National-level models estimate that effective road infrastructure can increase GDP by between 1.3 and 2.2 percent—making this more than a cosmetic exercise.
A critical enabler of all these achievements is Enugu’s fiscal transformation. The state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) grew from ₦37.4 billion in 2023 to over ₦200 billion in 2024 as presented by the Governor in his 2025 budget speech, and targets more than ₦600 billion in 2025. These gains are driven by digitised tax systems, institutional reforms across over 100 MDAs, increased staffing in tax administration, and collaboration with technical consultants. These revenue milestones underscore the feasibility of executing such ambitious capital projects—if well-managed.
Technological innovation underpins many of these reforms. The deployment of the Enugu Geographic Information System (ENGIS)—a GIS-based land and infrastructure registry—is modernising e‑governance, enabling digital spatial planning, and laying the groundwork for future public tracking of infrastructure projects. Making ENGIS public-facing would boost transparency, allowing real-time access to project status, land data, and development planning.
Yet, for all its laudable progress, the Mbah administration still faces valid concerns around transparency and accountability. Civil society actors, media professionals, and citizens have raised questions about opaque procurement processes and PPP arrangements, limited access to bidding details, vague cost breakdowns, and unclear timelines. These concerns are not trivial.
Transparency in public infrastructure is both a democratic and developmental imperative. Open contracting enhances trust, improves project quality, mitigates corruption, and fosters civic ownership. Enugu State would benefit significantly from adopting civic tech platforms such as the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS), Citizens’ Budget Portals, and real-time public dashboards. Participatory monitoring approaches, such as geocoded reporting, mobile tracking, and citizen scorecards, can bridge the gap between planning and delivery.
The government is already laying groundwork for long-term sustainability. Beyond revenue growth, steps should be made towards performance-based budgeting, asset lifecycle costing, and an infrastructure maintenance policy. Engaging local professionals, artisans, universities, and professional bodies can build local content, encourage innovation, and reduce costs.
Enugu’s infrastructure strategy—by allocating 86 percent of its budget to capital expenditure, surpassing the national subnational average of 60 percent—already sets it apart. However, PPP frameworks remain underutilised. Challenges such as policy inconsistency, FX risks, and regulatory bottlenecks hinder implementation, but opportunities exist in projects like cargo terminals, urban markets, and dual carriageway expansions. The ongoing Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway PPP outline business case provides a reference model.
Environmental sustainability is also key. Enugu’s geography makes it vulnerable to flooding and erosion. The state must integrate climate-resilient designs—such as permeable pavements, elevated embankments, and recycled materials—especially given lessons from the World Bank–supported NEWMAP programme.
Importantly, infrastructure must be inclusive. Road developments should benefit not only urban commuters or industries but also women, children, youth, and rural dwellers. Better roads mean safer school routes, easier access to markets, and improved development outcomes across sectors.
Risk mitigation is another priority. Fiscal discipline must be maintained to avoid debt overhang, especially, given that the States debt stock is currently over 318 billion Naira. Stakeholder engagement must be scaled up to reduce elite resistance and political backlash. And most crucially, maintenance must be institutionalised to prevent today’s roads from becoming tomorrow’s ruins.
Governor Peter Mbah’s infrastructural revolution is not merely a physical overhaul—it is a bold attempt to reshape governance, restore citizen trust, and stimulate inclusive growth. If executed transparently and sustained over time, it could position Enugu as a benchmark for subnational development in Nigeria.
But for this legacy to endure, the roads must lead not only to new destinations—but also to accountability, sustainability, and shared prosperity. Development is incomplete without public scrutiny. Commendation must walk hand-in-hand with questions. Transparency, civic inclusion, and institutional reform are the only guarantees that this transformation will not merely become a monument to political ambition but a lasting framework for social and economic justice.
Governor Mbah has made an extraordinary start. What happens next—and how openly it happens—will determine whether these roads truly connect people to opportunity or simply pave a political legacy. God is with us!