Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has wooed Nigerian diaspora community in the Guangdong Province of China with investments on the New Enugu City.

The Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Peter Mbah, Mr. Uche Anichukwu disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Enugu.

Anichukwu said that the governor made the call during a roadshow organised in Guangzhou city to market New Enugu City project, with Nigerians, Ndigbo and Enugu indigenes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the New Enugu City was one of Mbah administration?s project to reposition Enugu State as the premier destination for business, investment, tourism and for living.

He said the governor assured them that the critical services in the first phase of the city would be ready in 12 months to 18 months, explaining that the China Communications and Construction Company (CCCC), had since commenced intensive work at the site in October 2023.

Anichukwu said Mbah expressed happiness over the high interest in the smart city adding that the government was working with the Chinese company to build an iconic smart city that would compete with the best anywhere in the world.

?We understand the value of achieving great economic growth, but we also know that it should also happen in a very conducive residential area and that was essentially what gave birth to the New Enugu City.

?So, we have come to market to them the New Enugu City, which is a smart city, and our engagement with diasporans in the Guangdong Province has been a tremendous success because of their huge expression of interest.

?The people have continually expressed interest to invest and to also come and take up a place at the New Enugu City.

?The new Enugu City is unique and I think it is the single largest development that is currently going on in the country in terms of real estate,? Mbah said.

He disclosed that the city had features and wide array of services such as residential area, cutting edge medical centre, sports arena and innovative park with the innovation industrial park.

?We also have the ICT for the Innovation Park, Vitality Bay, which is essentially going to house the corporate headquarters of blue-chip companies and also some government offices.

?All the utilities that you need to live there, such as power, water, gas, high-speed internet, are all going to be provided,? he said.

Anichukwu said the state was partnering with CCCC and a lot of consulting firms from the United Kingdom to build the city.

He quoted the Managing Director of CCCC Nigeria, Feng Yu, expressing delight for partnership with Mbah?s administration to actualise the New Enugu City.

?The project has already started. The development is phase-by-phase. We have confidence to bring our technology and development to Enugu State and Igbo people.

?We believe that with your cooperation we can contribute to change that area,? he said.

The SSA to the governor said the Consul-General of the Nigerian Mission in Guangzhou, Amb. George Onwuekwe; President of Nigerian community in Guangzhou, Adebutu Olanrewaju; and the President of the Enugu State Association, Guangzhou, Hyacinth Ezeka, commended Mbah for his big dream and investment drive.

Ezeka said, ?We are delighted for such development in Enugu State. If the governor continues this way, Enugu State will be the best in South-East and Nigeria.

?What he is pushing for is the dream we have had for Enugu for a very long time now. He has big dreams, and he will achieve them with our support.

?I am advising every Igbo person to invest in Enugu. Coming to Enugu to invest is like ?Aku ruo ulo?.

While urging the Nigerian diaspora community to invest in Enugu, Olarenwaju noted that Guangzhou boosted many successful Nigerian businesses.

He said that Mbah was the first Nigerian governor and government official to come into that region of China to engage with them. (NAN)

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