Governor Peter Mbah says it is difficult to have development without security, saying that his administration identified the security challenge in Enugu and tackled it headlong.

Mr Mbah said this when the new general officer commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. On Tuesday, Oluyemi Olatoye paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Enugu.

While disclosing that the Enugu government and the Nigerian Army had a robust, fruitful and productive relationship, Mr Mbah said, “It is absolutely difficult to talk of development without security.”

He said his administration committed to exponentially growing the state economy and eradicating poverty, explaining that the idea would remain in vain without security.

“That is why, in early hours of our administration, we identified security challenges as the biggest elephant in the room, and we are in a hurry to chase that elephant out of the room.

“We would not have attained relative peaceful and secure environment we have in Enugu today without the support and unwavering commitment and devotion to duty by your men,” he told Mr Olatoye.

He assured the army leadership in Enugu that the state would continue to support the military by providing them with all the necessary logistics to bring criminality to an end.

“We have zero tolerance to criminality and this is demonstrated given the level of investment we made in security. Given your good experiences in operations, I have no doubt in my mind that this relationship will be enhanced under your watch,” Mr Mbah said.

Earlier, Mr Olatoye, also the commander of the Joint Task Force in the South-East Operation Udoka, said it was his responsibility in the region and Cross River to upscale a peaceful environment for socio-economic activities.

(NAN)