FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SET TO COMMISSION BAREFOOT RENEWABLE ENERGY COLLEGE IN KOGI AS CRITICS FAULT GOVERNOR PETER MBAH OVER MISSED ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES IN ENUGU

The Federal Government is preparing to officially commission the Barefoot Renewable Energy College, Kogi State (BARECKS), next month at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara. The milestone event—announced by the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi—marks a major step forward in advancing Nigeria’s energy transition under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Dr. Abdullahi commended the Kogi State Government, under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, for providing an enabling environment and actively collaborating with federal agencies to institutionalize renewable energy education, technical innovation, and workforce development for Nigerian youths.

​However, the upcoming launch in Kogi State has reignited intense debate and public frustration in Enugu State over missed industrialization opportunities. Stakeholders and civic commentators have highlighted that while neighboring states are capitalizing on federal partnerships to secure transformative infrastructure, Enugu State has lost out on major green energy investments due to political rivalry and executive inaction. Key among these lost opportunities is the ₦40 billion bio-methanol renewable energy plant previously attracted to Enugu State by former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji (Nwakaibie). The project was designed to tackle chronic energy deficits, generate thousands of green jobs, and position Enugu as the renewable energy hub of the South-East region.

​Critics maintain that the failure to bring the ₦40 billion bio-methanol initiative to fruition stems directly from administrative resistance and political sabotage by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration. Rather than fostering cross-party synergy with federal authorities and legacy project facilitators to secure multi-billion naira energy investments, the state leadership chose political posturing over public interest. Observers point out that while Kogi State created a seamless, receptive environment for federal institutions like BARECKS to thrive, Enugu State alienated strategic federal partners, effectively depriving Ndi Enugu of stable power solutions, industrial expansion, and youth employment opportunities.

​This pattern of missed opportunities forms a core argument among residents and political analysts who contend that Governor Peter Mbah lacks a functional blueprint for the long-term economic prosperity of Enugu State. Opponents argue that an administration focused on sustainable progress would prioritize power generation, industrial manufacturing, and institutional partnerships over surface-level projects and electoral maneuvering. As public dissatisfaction continues to grow over energy deficits, policy inconsistencies, and unfulfilled economic promises, citizens across the state are increasingly asserting that the current leadership has failed to deliver meaningful development, making a compelling case against returning the administration to office in 2027.