South East · Capital: Enugu
Enugu State
Governor: Peter Mbah
Population
3,267,837
Land area
7,161 km²
Created
August 27, 1991
Governance
Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah (PDP), a finance analyst and maritime legal practitioner, has served as Governor of Enugu State since 29 May 2023. His administration presented a ₦1.62 trillion 2026 'Budget of Renewed Momentum,' targeting growth of the state's GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.
History
Enugu State was created on 27 August 1991 from the old Anambra State. Its capital, Enugu ('the top of the hill'), was a major coal mining centre from the colonial period, giving the state its nickname 'Coal City State.' Coal was discovered at Udi Ridge in 1909 by British mining engineer Albert Kitson. Enugu has served as capital of the Southern Provinces, the Eastern Region, the breakaway Republic of Biafra, and East Central State in turn. Its official 2006 census population was 3,267,837.
Natural Resources
Coal
Enugu's defining mineral resource, historically mined at the Udi Ridge since 1909, giving the state its 'Coal City' nickname.
Iron ore, limestone and marble
Additional solid minerals found across the state.
Tourism
Colonial-era coal-mining heritage sites and hilly terrain around the capital give the 'Coal City' its character.
- Ngwo Pine Forest
- Nike Lake
Agriculture
Sixty percent of the workforce farms; cassava, yam, maize, and rice are the leading crops, with a new 300,000-hectare Land Bank project underway in Isi-Uzo LGA.
Yam · Corn · Cassava · Oil palm · Cashew · Rice
Investment
A 2026 budget of ₦1.62 trillion allocates 80% to capital projects. The 'New Enugu Smart City' initiative is transforming the Nike axis, and Internally Generated Revenue is projected to exceed ₦400 billion, a 221.6% increase over 2024.
Coal & solid minerals · Agriculture · Real estate & smart city development · Logistics
Infrastructure
Education
University of Nigeria, Nsukka