Enugu State has long distinguished itself in the area of security architecture, particularly since insecurity escalated nationwide.
When former Governor Sullivan Chime, confronted with rising security threats, banned commercial motorcycles (Okada) as a means of transportation, his decision drew mixed reactions.
Yet, over time, residents adjusted and ultimately benefitted from the policy, especially within the metropolis.
Similarly, when the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi pioneered the establishment of a Forest Guard system—the first of its kind in Nigeria—many dismissed the initiative.
Today, the model has been reformed, equipped, and strengthened under Governor Peter Mbah and has since been adopted by the Federal Government.
Ugwuanyi’s ban on tricycle (Keke) operations after 9 p.m.
also attracted both praise and criticism but contributed meaningfully to reducing night-time crime.
Now, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, regarded as a disruptive innovator in governance, has taken bold steps to advance security and public order.
His administration successfully ended the illegal IPOB Monday sit-at-home order that had crippled life and commerce across the Southeast.
Many doubted it was achievable, but through resilience, sincerity, and strategic engagement, the Mbah administration restored normalcy in the state.
In line with his economic blueprint, Governor Mbah overhauled the state’s security system by creating the Distress Response Squad and established a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre at Government House, equipped with AI-powered surveillance cameras deployed across Enugu.
His administration procured and distributed numerous operational vehicles to security agencies and launched the Enugu State Security Trust Fund (ESSTF) in partnership with private sector players and citizens.
The benefits of the Trust Fund recently became evident with the inauguration of high-tech security equipment and patrol vehicles procured under the ESSTF.
The new assets include two advanced drones, 10 Hilux 4×4 patrol vehicles, 40 motorcycles, 400 bulletproof vests, and 400 bulletproof helmets.
Speaking during the inauguration, Governor Mbah thanked the ESSTF Trustees for their commitment and noted that these assets complement existing investments, including the AI-enabled surveillance infrastructure and more than 150 Distress Response Squad patrol vehicles equipped with smart cameras.
He emphasized that the administration’s ambitious development agenda depends heavily on safety and stability.
“We can confidently say that violent crimes have been reduced by over 80 percent in Enugu State today,” Mbah said. “But security is one area where even one breach can undermine all successes.
That is why we continue to invest aggressively in technology, equipment, and intelligence.”
The ESSTF Chairman, Ike Chioke, represented by Board of Trustees member Nath Udeh, affirmed that criminals “no longer have hiding places,” adding that the new tools will further strengthen the governor’s efforts to make Enugu the safest place to live and invest.
With these developments, Enugu is arguably the first state in the Southeast—and second in Nigeria after Lagos—to operate a functional Security Trust Fund and deploy drones for safety operations.
