Tinubu Pledges Rail Link, Infrastructure Support for Enugu During Meeting with Mbah Delegation

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday committed federal support for critical infrastructure projects in Enugu State, including the proposed Parako to Enugu rail corridor, during a meeting with a delegation of political leaders from the state at the Presidential Villa.

The President received the delegation led by Governor Peter Mbah, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress in October 2025 after winning the governorship on the PDP platform in 2023. The visit was framed as an expression of gratitude and political solidarity ahead of the 2027 elections.

Addressing the delegation, Tinubu acknowledged Enugu's longstanding request for federal infrastructure investment, particularly the rail link considered vital to unlocking the economic potential of the South East.

"On the matter you raised, the rails from Parako to Enugu, the power sector reforms, the infrastructure that is the backbone of economic development, I noted it. I will do more," Tinubu said.

The President attributed Nigeria's historical infrastructure deficit partly to a structural funding mismatch. "What has been the problem in the past is a Nigeria that is trying to finance long-term projects with short-term funding. We have not embarked on a serious, long-term outlook for our country," he stated.

Tinubu also took a swipe at previous administrations over electricity privatisation, saying, "You have leaders who privatised electricity that is not working. They gave us darkness and descent, and we are trying to get ourselves through that to build a nation of bright hope and joyful people."

Commending Governor Mbah's performance, the President described him as a transformative leader. "You have been a transformative leader, and we genuinely appreciate what is evolving in Enugu today in a manner that we are witnessing the rapid development of the state. The results you have outlined in security, infrastructure, education and healthcare are not abstract. They are the evidence that reform is working, that difficult decisions are yielding real outcomes, and that Nigeria is moving forward."

Tinubu assured the governor of continued federal partnership, saying, "I want to say thank you very much, Peter. We will not let you down. We will continue to work hard. You know what you handed over to us, and we are navigating the rough waterways, but we will land this ship very well to steady Nigeria and bring prosperity to our economy."

Governor Mbah, who led a delegation comprising three former governors, a former Senate President, two sitting senators, and other prominent political figures from Enugu, said the visit was to express solidarity with the President's vision and appreciation for federal investments in the state.

"This visit is symbolic because it speaks to our shared future and a commitment to progress. We have come to express our deepest gratitude for your engagement and investment in the people of Enugu State," Mbah said. "The delegation here represents the excited and grateful voices of over seven million sons and daughters of Enugu. We state boldly and without ambiguity that this relationship has earned our trust and support."

The governor added, "On that basis, Your Excellency, we will stand proudly with you on election day in January 2027."

Mbah highlighted several landmark projects inaugurated by the President during his January 2025 visit to Enugu, noting they had boosted the state's socio-economic development.

Former Senate President Ken Nnamani, who also addressed the meeting, said the delegation was at the Villa to thank the President for his support for Enugu and the South East across multiple sectors including roads, railways, and aviation.

"We have a leader in Enugu State. We have confidence in him. He is leading us right," Nnamani said. "The great achievements under his leadership would not have been possible without your support. The entire population of Enugu State, of more than seven million people, would have loved to come here to say a big thank you, Mr President. You will benefit tremendously from the support."

Nnamani affirmed that Enugu State would support Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027.