Enugu strengthens investment climate with reform plan

Enugu State Government has unveiled its 2026 Business Enabling Reforms Action Plan (BERAP) as part of a sustained drive to strengthen the state’s investment climate and position Enugu as a preferred destination for local and foreign investors.

The plan was presented weekend during a private sector engagement session held at the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), where representatives of business associations, manufacturers and professional bodies reviewed the proposed reforms and offered inputs.

Speaking at the session, the Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, said the BERAP is a structured and measurable reform initiative that has been consistently implemented since the inauguration of Governor Peter Mbah’s administration, a development that has earned the state a major leap from 36th position to 6th position in the national ease of doing business survey.

He noted that the 2026 edition is the third cycle of the programme, reflecting the government’s commitment to continuous improvement of the business environment.

According to him, the state deliberately engaged the organised private sector at the formulation stage of the plan because reforms are most effective when beneficiaries are actively involved.

He said the draft action plan had earlier been shared with various groups, including the chamber of commerce, manufacturers, engineers and lawyers, to allow for detailed review ahead of the validation meeting.

Dr. Nwobodo explained that the 2026 BERAP focuses on four key result areas: land administration and property development, fibre-optic deployment to boost digital connectivity, public-private partnership frameworks, and tax measures.

He added that each result area contains defined actions, expected outcomes and measurable indicators to enable transparent monitoring and evaluation of implementation.

He said the reforms were already yielding visible results, citing increased investment interest, heightened infrastructure activities and improved economic confidence, all of which are contributing to the state’s long-term goal of growing its economy to a $30 billion GDP.

On land administration, the commissioner disclosed that the government has introduced gender-based classification in the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os) to address disparities between men and women in property documentation. He said the measure would help government track inclusion, identify gaps and ensure that economic growth remains broad-based and equitable.

Dr. Nwobodo also highlighted the complete removal of right-of-way charges for fibre-optic deployment, a policy aimed at attracting large-scale private investment in broadband infrastructure.

He explained that investors are required to extend connectivity to smart schools across the state’s 260 wards, thereby bringing digital opportunities to rural communities and reducing rural–urban migration.

A participant at the session, Mrs. Ijeoma Ezeasor of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), welcomed the initiative, describing Enugu as one of the most consultative states in the Southeast.

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She noted that while reforms must ultimately be judged by outcomes, the sustained engagement and improvements recorded since the last meeting showed that the state was on the right path.

She expressed optimism that continued collaboration between the government and the organised private sector would further enhance Enugu’s competitiveness and investment appeal.