President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to completing the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri eastern rail line, pledging to address inherited challenges with lasting solutions.

In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Tinubu made the promise on Saturday during an interactive session with South-East leaders as part of his official visit to Enugu.

“It is a work in progress. I inherited some of these critical problems and am committed to solving them,” Tinubu stated.

The president also expressed support for the development of the Anambra basin, noting its potential to hold up to one billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas. Tinubu emphasized the need for investment in gas infrastructure as an alternative energy source, saying:
“Gas is an alternative to petrol. There is no better time to invest in it. We will work together, and I am fortunate to have committed governors like Peter Mbah.”

Commending Governor Mbah for his development initiatives, Tinubu highlighted his administration’s resolve to support Enugu’s growth. He praised the state for its leadership in leveraging federal reforms, particularly the deregulation of the electricity sector.

Governor Mbah, in response, expressed gratitude for Tinubu’s establishment of the South-East Development Commission and support for state-driven economic initiatives. He reiterated his administration’s ambitious goal of growing Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within four years, positioning the state among the top three in Nigeria by GDP.

“Your excellency, your credentials as a true federalist are evident, and your legacy will earn enduring accolades,” Mbah remarked, adding that Enugu is the first sub-national to secure regulatory oversight of its electricity market from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Tinubu praised the collaboration between federal and state governments, describing it as a blueprint for sustainable development across the country.