The Council Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Dr. Ibenaku Harford Onoh, has praised Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for his dedication to positioning Enugu as a prime destination for investment.
Speaking on Tuesday, during the official groundbreaking ceremony of the Enugu State Tractor Nortrac Assembly Plant and Service Center, held at Old Dailystar Headquarters, No 6 Lugard Avenue GRA Enugu, Dr. Onoh highlighted that Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s administration has brought top investors to the state since he assumed office, alongside various infrastructural developments, which have transformed Enugu into a notable hub for investment.
He pointed out that Enugu North LGA is the largest beneficiary of Dr. Mbah’s infrastructural initiatives and policies, which have positively impacted the lives of the residents of Enugu North LGA.
According to Dr. Onoh, “It is no surprise that Notra chose Enugu as their first point of investment in Africa, a pattern we have observed in various sectors of the economy since our Governor took office”.
“We as an LGA we appreciative and grateful for being the largest beneficiary of your projects and programs in Enugu, ranging from the urban road construction and rehabilitation to the 13 ongoing smart school projects in Enugu North LGA, the Primary health care centers, an international conference center, and an international hospital, among others, are located in our LGA.
“As a local government, we are committed to supporting Notra in their efforts, and soon, the entire state will benefit from this significant investment.”
Also speaking, the Director of Nortra Tractors & Equipment Ltd, Engr. Philip Ejiogu, affirmed that the company is in Enugu for the long term.
He mentioned that their decision to invest in Enugu was driven by the state’s appeal to investors, a quality that the Governor has fostered, and emphasized that the state is their first investment choice in Africa.
Engr. Ejiogu also noted that, beyond working with the state government, the company intends to collaborate with universities and other higher institutions to provide training opportunities for youths and farmers.
In his address, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, DrPeter Ndubuisi Mbah, emphasized that the ceremony is part of his administration’s strategy to revolutionize agriculture and stimulate economic growth.
He explained that this initiative is among several efforts to boost the state’s GDP from its current $4.4 billion to $30 billion, with Enugu set to have 1,000 tractors available; adding that around 200 already assembled tractors will arrive in the state in 14 days, while the remaining 800 will be assembled locally over the next few months.
He remarked, “I am delighted to celebrate this moment. Our vision includes having 1,000 tractors in Enugu, and this event marks the beginning. In two weeks, we should have 200 tractors ready here. Our plan goes beyond just providing tractor services or setting up a training center; it is part of our broader aim to grow our state’s GDP from $4.4B to $30B. Our agricultural vision extends beyond the conventional approach of manual farming. We want to maximize crop production and expand beyond food production; this is a step towards making Enugu a prime investment destination. It is a partnership-driven initiative. What you see is Enugu taking extra steps to draw in investments and ease concerns about investing. We have already placed an order for over 200 pre-assembled tractors, which will arrive here in two weeks, while the remaining 800 will be assembled here in Enugu. This will strengthen our economy and generate employment. We are committed to providing the necessary infrastructure and security for Notra and their partners to thrive. This is an opportunity for our youths to gain employment and become more employable.
“We thank Notra for selecting Enugu as the company’s investment destination in Africa.”
“It is indeed my honor to conduct this groundbreaking investment ceremony.”
