Governor Peter Mbah has reaffirmed that Enugu remains the safest state in Nigeria, despite what he described as the propaganda of political detractors seeking to undermine the achievements of his administration.
Speaking on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 13, Abayomi Oladipo, at the Lion Building in Enugu, Governor Mbah highlighted the proactive and strategic investments his government has made to combat crime and strengthen security infrastructure across the state.
The governor noted that his administration had, from inception, prioritised security as a prerequisite to achieving its ambitious economic growth plan to expand the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion and position Enugu as Nigeria’s leading destination for investment, business, tourism, and quality living.
“We understand that without security, we cannot talk about development or economic growth. That’s why we invested heavily in building security capacity from day one,” Mbah said.
He listed the establishment of a Distress Response Squad, a special police unit equipped with over 150 vehicles, as one of the critical interventions. He also cited the installation of artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance cameras across the state, as well as the operationalisation of a Command and Control Centre to monitor, prevent, and respond to criminal activities.
“Enugu is the most secure city in the country. Some people may try to distort this reality by circulating old incidents or events from other states and presenting them as current situations in Enugu. But our people know better, and the data supports our claims,” he said.
Governor Mbah criticised the use of social media by what he called “alarmists” who publish misleading content to portray the state in a negative light. “We have seen fabricated videos and images, falsely attributed to recent events in Enugu, that are aimed at creating panic. But we remain focused and resolute in our security efforts,” he added.
Responding, AIG Abayomi Oladipo expressed satisfaction with the security architecture in the state. He said the zone, which also covers Anambra and Ebonyi, is implementing improved strategies through enhanced collaboration among state commands.
“I have received a comprehensive briefing from Commissioner of Police Mamman Giwa and other senior officers. The synergy we’ve put in place is yielding results. I commend the governor for the remarkable progress made in securing lives and property in Enugu,” Oladipo said.
The AIG praised Governor Mbah’s commitment to supporting law enforcement agencies, adding that the current security framework in the state serves as a model for others.
