The Federal Government has recently established the South East Development Commission (SEDC), with its headquarters located in Enugu. Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the formation of the commission, while the House of Representatives appointed Abia lawmaker Chris Nkwonta as the Chairman of the House Committee for the commission. As these structures are being set up, it is anticipated that the board and members of the commission will be constituted soon. In light of these developments, the SEDC is engaging residents and stakeholders in the region to set a comprehensive development agenda.
Archbishop Opoko’s Recommendations for SEDC
Archbishop Raphael Opoko of the Methodist Ecclesiastical Diocese of Umuahia has urged the commission, once inaugurated, to prioritize several key infrastructure projects. He suggested the construction of a seaport and interstate rail lines to connect the South East states, as well as the dredging of River Niger, Ugwuta Lake, and the Azunmini Blue River in Ukwa, Abia State. He emphasized that these initiatives would enhance the region’s economy, create jobs, and facilitate commercial activities.
Archbishop Opoko commended President Tinubu and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ben Kalu, for their roles in establishing the commission. He highlighted the pressing need for funding to ensure the commission’s effectiveness and stressed the importance of addressing the many dilapidated roads in the South East, both federal and state.
He also called for a focus on the energy sector, advocating for the construction of a power plant similar to the Geometric plant in Aba, which would aid in the region’s industrialization. Furthermore, he reiterated the need for the commission to prioritize the dredging of key waterways to link the South East to the sea and the establishment of a rail line to facilitate the movement of people and goods.
Civil War Restitution Focused by Chief Chekwas Okorie
Prominent Igbo leader Chief Chekwas Okorie has asserted that the commission should serve as a platform to address the issues stemming from the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Reconciliation (3R) policy that followed Nigeria’s civil war. He noted that the commission’s primary role should include addressing the significant infrastructural deficits in the South East that have persisted since the war ended in 1970, exacerbated by environmental challenges such as erosion.