Enugu embarks on reforms to de-risk investments

Enugu State government has said it would embark on a massive review of the state laws and enactment of new ones where necessary as part of efforts to make the state the preferred destination for investments.

The state government also said it will prioritise the establishment of integrated smart schools in the 260 wards of the state to transform the education sector from mere social service delivery institutions to skill acquisition institutions.

The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kingsley Udeh, accompanied by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, announced this to journalists at the end of the state executive council meeting, at the weekend.

Udeh said: “Enugu State is set to be the choice destination for both foreign and local investments. To ensure that this is projected and done bullishly, the state government is working on reviewing various laws that deal with investment, trade and industry.

“The Enugu State Electricity Law 2023, which came into being today, will open the Enugu electricity market to both foreign and local investors in the energy industry to boost power generation, transmission and distribution. This will, in turn, support our industry, business activities and boost our economy. We are calling on investors to take advantage of the opportunities arising from this law.”

“But we are also keen on law reviews and justice administration with the understanding that the justice system is actually one of the key indicators as far as investment and business are concerned.”

“We are aware that investors will always look for where the judicial system is strong enough. They want to be sure that if a dispute arises from business to business or business with the government, they would get quick dispensation of justice and that justice when given in the form of judgment would be obeyed and enforced. This is what the government is working on.”

He added that the administration is also digitising the judiciary from filling of cases up to decision-making. Udeh said that the target is to ensure that cases, which used to take the court five to seven years to dispense with, could now be concluded in a matter of a year or less.

On his part, the Commissioner for Education said that at least 10 of the integrated and smart schools earmarked for each of the electoral wards in the country would now be completed before the end of 2023, adding that the first of such schools was nearing completion.