Governor Mbah Revives Nigergas After 30-Year Hiatus, Boosts Job Creation and Industrial Growth in Enugu

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, on Thursday officially relaunched Nigergas Company Limited — a once-moribund state-owned gas production facility — after over 30 years of inactivity. The revitalized company is now fully upgraded and operational, thanks to an ambitious intervention by the Mbah administration.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Governor Mbah highlighted the economic impact of the revival, stating that Nigergas has already provided direct employment for over 100 skilled and semi-skilled workers and is projected to create more than 5,000 indirect jobs across sectors such as distribution, fabrication, transportation, and supply chains.

“This is more than just the restoration of metal and pipes,” Mbah said. “It is the restoration of purpose, dignity, and productivity to a site that once symbolized Eastern Nigeria’s industrial promise.”

He emphasized that the revival aligns with his administration’s broader goal of growing Enugu State’s GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion by transforming dormant public assets into viable economic drivers.

“When we speak of the goal to grow our GDP from $4.4bn to $30bn, it is not mere posturing,” Mbah added. “It is rooted in the conviction that Enugu can become a truly diversified, self-reliant economy, if we muster the will to do things differently to launch us to the future we dream of.”

On the company’s rehabilitation model, Mbah explained that the state adopted a hybrid approach — retaining public ownership while applying private-sector performance standards.

“The plant now runs on modern, accountable, and commercially viable principles,” he noted, adding that its new capacity includes the production of 100 cubic metres of oxygen and 45 cubic metres of acetylene per hour.

Nigergas will now supply liquid and medical oxygen, acetylene gas, and soon nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, and compressed natural gas (CNG), helping to improve healthcare delivery and reduce production costs for manufacturers, welders, and agro-processors across the state.

“Reliable medical oxygen saves lives. On-demand industrial gases lower operating costs and keep our workshops and factories running. These improvements ripple outward — they strengthen our revenue base and deepen opportunities for MSMEs,” Mbah said.

He praised the efforts of key stakeholders, including Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, Managing Director of the Enugu State Investment Authority; Ten Gas Development Ltd., the engineering firm behind the rehabilitation; and community leaders from Emene.

Dr. Ogbu-Nwobodo noted that Nigergas, originally established in 1962 under Dr. Michael Okpara in partnership with Italian firm Siad Machine Impianti, had suffered decades of neglect due to mismanagement, nepotism, and poor governance. He commended Governor Mbah for restoring what he described as “lost dreams.”

Chief Chike Madueke, MD of Ten Gas Development Ltd., stated that the renewed facility would not only boost production but also serve as a training hub, generating thousands of job opportunities for Enugu’s youth.

Community leaders, including Igwe Samuel Asadu (Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council), Dr. Joy Uduji (health consultant), and Pastor Beloved Dan Anike (Chairman, Enugu East LGA), hailed the governor’s transformative leadership.

“You are the Nehemiah of our time,” Dr. Uduji said. “Like Nehemiah, who came and supervised the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, you have come to rebuild Enugu State.”

Nollywood veteran Kanayo O. Kanayo also commended Mbah for improving security and infrastructure, noting, “It is not praise-singing. Security is working here. When we shoot movies in Nike, we stay out late, and we are safe.”