The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has commenced the construction of a new city project that will transform the state into a hub of investment, business, living, and tourism. The project, which is in line with his campaign promise, will cover 10,000 hectres of land across four local government areas in the state.
The new city project, which is being executed by China Communication Construction Company, will be completed in two phases. The first phase, which spans 26 square kilometres, will feature three islands: Happy Island, Vitality Bay, and Innovation Park. These islands will have world-class facilities such as a dedicated power plant, a central sewage system, high-speed internet, and other smart city features.
Governor Mbah said the new city project was part of his vision to make Enugu State one of the top three states in Nigeria and a leader in the continent. He said he was committed to growing the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion in the next four to eight years.
“We have conceived a city that we believe marks the beginning of our journey to the position and consequential roles we want to play in the affairs of this continent.
“We are going to start with the first phase of about 26km2. This will warehouse three Islands, namely the Happy Island, the Vitality Bay, and the Innovation Park. All of these islands are designed with first class city features in mind.
“All the things that we experience when we travel to Dubai, Singapore, and other major cities in the world, is what we are about to bring to you here in Enugu State because we believe you deserve nothing but the best.
“And this is obviously pursuant to the pledge we have made to Ndi Enugu to grow the economy from its current level of $4.4bn to $30bn in the next four to eight years.
“This is going to create a veritable platform because in this city, we are going to have a dedicated power project, a dedicated power plant, we are going to have a central sewage system, we are going to have all the central public utilities centralised, and it is going to be provided by the government.
“We are going to have access to high-speed internet in this New City, there is hardly anything you find in any modern smart city that you won’t find in this city”, he said
The Deputy Managing Director of CCCC, Henry Li, assured the governor of delivering a world-class project within the stipulated time. He said CCCC was proud to partner with Enugu State on this landmark project.
The Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Area, Livinus Anike, and other leaders of the host communities expressed their support and cooperation for the project. They also praised the governor for his creativity and innovation in governance.
The new city project is one of several projects that Governor Mbah has embarked on since he assumed office in May 2023. He has also flagged off the construction of 17km road and feeder roads within the new city area, 40km dual carriageway linking Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Neke-Ikem, and 71 urban roads in Enugu capital city.
The new city project is similar to another project called Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City or Centenary City, which is being developed by Private Estates International West Africa Limited. The Centenary City is expected to be a model for sustainable urban development in Nigeria.
