Enugu wins Africa Security Watch Award for governance, security

Crime Diary, Politics

ENUGU, Nigeria (NPA) — Enugu State has been recognised at the 19th Africa Security Watch Awards as the African Leader in Governance for Security and Human Development, 2025, in recognition of its investments in security infrastructure and policies.

Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah described the recognition as an honour and said it affirmed the impact of his administration’s efforts to improve security and protect lives and property across the state.

In a statement announcing the award, Mbah said his administration made the security of lives and property a primary objective upon assuming office.

Advertisement

“When my administration came into office, we made the security of the lives and property of our people a primary objective. We wanted an Enugu where no one has to live in fear.

“Through deliberate investments, stronger security systems and sustained action, we have worked to make that vision a reality.

“Being recognised at the 19th Africa Security Watch Awards as African Leader in Governance for Security and Human Development, 2025 is an honour, but more importantly, it affirms that the work we are doing is making a difference,” he said.

The governor said the award reflected the administration’s broader development agenda under the “Tomorrow is Here” policy framework.

Since assuming office, the Mbah administration has pursued projects and reforms covering security, infrastructure, education, technology, agriculture and urban development.

These include the Enugu Air initiative, Smart Green Schools, innovation and technology hubs, rural road construction and urban renewal programmes.

On the economic front, the state government has pursued fiscal reforms and economic diversification aimed at increasing internally generated revenue and expanding the state’s economic base.

The government has set an IGR target of ₦870 billion for 2026, representing a substantial portion of its ₦1.62 trillion budget.

It is also pursuing a long-term strategy to grow the state’s economy from an estimated $4.4 billion in 2023 to $30 billion by 2031, with investments targeted at infrastructure, technology, innovation and agricultural modernisation.

A major development in the state’s industrialisation drive was the inauguration of the Enugu Haier Factory, a $20 million foreign direct investment project by Haier Global Business Group in partnership with the state government, in the first quarter of 2026.

The facility is expected to produce smartphones, tablets, computers, smart boards, Android televisions, education and health technologies, as well as renewable energy solutions.

Under the partnership, the state government provided land for the facility and is expected to serve as its largest customer through the planned purchase of 25,000 all-in-one desktop computers and 300,000 tablets for deployment across the state’s 260 Smart Green Schools.

Mbah described the investment as a milestone in the administration’s efforts to position Enugu as a destination for industry, technology and innovation-driven growth.

The factory is expected to initially produce about 200,000 units annually across ICT, medical equipment and renewable energy product lines, with plans to expand its workforce to more than 200 employees.