South-East Leaders Demand $10bn Infrastructure Fund
South-East Leaders Demand $10bn Infrastructure Fund
By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa
Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) have formally requested a $10 billion infrastructure injection from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to end regional economic stagnation.
Speaking at the “South East Vision 2050” forum in Enugu, leaders described the funding as a “Marshall Plan” necessary to bridge the massive developmental gap in the zone.
The SEDC Managing Director, Dr. Mark Okoye, highlighted that the funds would target “bankable projects,” including 600-megawatt power plants and a regional gas pipeline to transform the area into an industrial hub.
Ohanaeze leader Senator John Azuta-Mbata emphasized that this investment is a vital tool for national reconciliation, intended to heal long-standing feelings of exclusion and neglect among the Igbo people.
The proposal also seeks to harness $4 billion in annual diaspora remittances by creating unified investment vehicles for large-scale projects like rail networks, rather than relying on fragmented individual spending.
Ultimately, the commission aims to grow the South-East economy to $200 billion by 2035, challenging the Federal Government to prove its commitment to equity through this sustained funding.
