CIVIC ADVOCATES RAISE ALARM OVER GOVERNANCE ISSUES, MARKET DEMOLITIONS, AND LEVIES IN ENUGU STATE

Civic rights advocates and political commentators across Enugu State have voiced strong condemnation regarding key policy directives under Governor Peter Mbah’s administration, citing widespread economic pressure, infrastructural displacement, and administrative overreach.

​In a public declaration detailing grassroots grievances, critics highlighted a series of controversial decisions, including steep fee assessments by the Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA) requiring shop owners to pay up to ₦35,000 in sanitation levies, alongside the past demolition of the historic Ogige Main Market in Nsukka to pave way for terminal transport infrastructure. The critique further raised alarms over land administration practices, local governance appointments, and security challenges in agrarian corridors like Uzo-Uwani, where rural communities continue to demand decisive government action against kidnapping networks and militia incursions.

​The statement condemned perceived attempts to suppress dissenting public commentary, insisting that civic feedback remains essential for democratic accountability and constitutional governance.

​"I will continue to speak against bad leaders and their government. It is under this regime in Enugu State that ESWAMA started collecting 35k for shop rent, Ogige Market was demolished in Nsukka, freedom of speech is gagged because people are exposing the rot, and insecurity persists in Uzo-Uwani. You cannot shut up everyone."

​As public debates intensify ahead of upcoming electoral and administrative assessments, civil society organizations continue to urge state authorities to adopt inclusive governance frameworks, address trader compensation commitments, and prioritize public safety across all 17 local government areas.