Enugu Partners with PEBES, Commits to Maintaining a Business-Friendly Environment

• Stakeholders praise Mbah for impactful reforms that boost business growth

The Enugu State Government has assured the business community that the significant improvement in the state’s business climate will be maintained through appropriate regulatory frameworks, infrastructural development, and regular stakeholder engagement.

Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Dr. Sam Ogbu‑Nwobodo, made the statement during the Nationwide State Engagement Tour and Townhall Meeting of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) held at Hotel Presidential, Enugu.

He emphasized that ease of doing business remains a shared priority across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) under Governor Peter Mbah’s leadership, underscoring the need to create and sustain a business‑friendly environment.

According to Ogbu‑Nwobodo, the Mbah administration is unwavering in its commitment to fostering an environment that supports enterprise growth, attracts investment, and generates sustainable economic opportunities for residents.

The commissioner welcomed candid contributions and constructive feedback from stakeholders on the impact of ongoing reforms and existing challenges, so that the government can fine‑tune its policies as needed.

He added that the outcomes of the engagement would be carefully documented and translated into actionable policies and regulatory improvements to strengthen Enugu’s business environment and advance Governor Mbah’s vision of building a $30 billion economy.

In his remarks, Dr. Kenechukwu Nnamani, Managing Director of the Enugu State Investment Development Authority (ESIDA), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering a competitive and investment‑friendly ecosystem.

He said this goal would be achieved “through continuous reforms, institutional efficiency, digital innovation, and sustained stakeholder engagement.”

The engagement, aimed at advancing business‑environment reforms, brought together representatives of the Organized Private Sector (OPS), business associations, investors, development partners, and government agencies.

With the PEBEC team led by Gabriel Ohiemi providing technical guidance, participants reviewed ongoing reforms, identified regulatory bottlenecks, and explored practical solutions to improve the ease of doing business in Enugu State.

Ohiemi encouraged OPS members to openly share their experiences and concerns regarding the business climate in Enugu State, stressing that feedback is critical to facilitating reforms that will enhance Nigeria’s business environment and global competitiveness.

During the townhall session, OPS representatives and business associations praised Governor Mbah for creating a more conducive environment for business growth since the start of his administration.

Rev. Ugo Chime, Group Managing Director of COPEN Group and spokesperson for the OPS, said that Mbah has “reset the mindset” of the private sector, enabling it to see growth instead of gloom.

“Unlike what it used to be, we have started seeing possibilities,” Chime added.

He also commended Mbah for bringing bright minds from the private sector into his team, noting that the benefits of this infusion are already evident in the reforms being carried out for business growth.

Chime urged the Enugu government to ensure the longevity of its agencies’ management and called for constant interaction between government and the OPS to smooth out any jagged edges in their relationship.

In their remarks, Nnanyelugo Martin Onyemelukwe, President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), and Barr. Sam Otoboeze, its Nsukka counterpart, expressed satisfaction with the Mbah administration’s deliberate initiatives to grow the state economy to unprecedented levels.

“The ongoing efforts toward infrastructure expansion, investment facilitation, security enhancement, tax harmonisation and rural economic development clearly demonstrate the government’s commitment to building a more competitive and investment‑friendly economy,” Otoboeze said.

The PEBEC nationwide stakeholder engagement initiative aims to strengthen public‑private dialogue, identify reform priorities, and accelerate interventions that enhance Nigeria’s business environment and economic competitiveness.