From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Ndubisi Mbah, has assured investors in the state of government’s commitment towards providing enabling environment for businesses and enterprises to thrive through the provision of security and other business incentives.
Gov. Mbah spoke yesterday through the Chairman of Igbo-Eze North LGA, Hon. Uche Ogalla during the commissioning of a new hospitality outfit, iDallas Hotel and Suites, Okatta, Enugu Ezike.
He said Enugu is very safe for investors and noted that government is concerned about various factors hindering the growth of businesses and issues affecting the hospitality and tourism sector and is therefore poised to address those challenges.
The governor noted that security of lives and properties of the citizens remains on the priority list of the administration’s agenda noting that such was the reason for the increased and recent support to security agencies in the state through the provision of operational vehicles, security gadgets and other logistics support provided by the government.
He said government is also providing incentives in the area of taxation and ease of doing business, which he said that every effort geared towards supporting entrepreneurs, small business owners and industrialists are being taken with serious commitment.
Earlier, while commending the hotel proprietor, Kelvin Okechukwu Ugwuoke, for imbibing the think home philosophy by bringing the investment home, the Igbo-Eze North Council Chairman, Hon. Uche Ogalla, noted that the investment will provide jobs for the people of Igbo-Eze North and also help in curbing crime and criminality in the area.
Mayor Ogalla said his administration will always support the efforts of forward-thinking and upwardly mobile youths who are desirous of contributing to the development of the council areas even from the private sector background noting that the administration is people-centric and will always seek for the happiness of the greatest number not downplaying the welfare and security of the people which government is all about.
The Chief Host, Kelvin Okechukwu Ugwoke, in a remark said he decided to site the hotel at home based on his belief that charity begins at home philosophy and the fact that development at the community level takes a step by step approach.
He said he was very much conscious of the fact that he would have made more returns on investment if such facility was built in Enugu town or other cosmopolitan cities across the southeast but he resisted such ideas and decided to think home first.
Members representing Igbo-Eze North 1 and 11 Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Ejike Eze and Clifford Obe in their separate remarks also lauded Ugwuoke for contributing towards the reduction of unemployment in the state through the establishment of the hospitality facility. They lauded the local government chairman for keying into the Governor Peter Mbah development programmes and bringing good governance to the grassroots.