The governor made the appeal during a question-and-answer session following his presentation on “Leadership and Transformation” at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu.
Governor Mbah disclosed that his first official meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu focused on advocating for Kanu’s release.
“My first visit to the President was about Nnamdi Kanu. I believe the right thing to do is to release him. Hopefully, that will be done soon,” he said.
The governor further noted that Enugu had already overcome the challenges of the Monday sit-at-home order, which disrupted social and economic activities in the Southeast.
“We met a situation where people were compelled to stay at home every Monday. Today, markets such as Ogbete operate freely on Mondays, and residents move about without fear,” he added.
Highlighting his administration’s vision, Governor Mbah reiterated his goal of transforming Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, eradicating poverty, and positioning the state as Nigeria’s preferred destination for business, tourism, and living.
He emphasized that such ambitions are anchored on a solid foundation of security and infrastructure.
“From the outset, we established a tech-driven, intelligence led security architecture anchored on a Command and Control Centre. With AI powered surveillance, integrated response units, and community partnerships, Enugu has recorded over an 80 per cent reduction in violent crime. This stability provides the foundation upon which investments and jobs can thrive,” he explained.
Governor Mbah also revealed that his administration is currently executing or has completed over 2,000 projects across health, roads, transport, agriculture, and education.
He defended his decision to allocate over 33 per cent of the state’s budget to education, describing it as a deliberate investment in the state’s future.
“The real wealth of Enugu, now and in the future, rests on the quality of its human capital. Committing a third of our budget to education is not reckless it is essential,” he stated.
At the NBA conference, Governor Mbah reaffirmed his call for Nnamdi Kanu’s release, highlighted the end of sit-at-home disruptions in Enugu, and showcased his administration’s bold transformation agenda centered on security, economic growth, and human capital development.
