Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has urged the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) to prioritise the construction of a regional high-pressure gas pipeline, an inter-state railway network and funding opportunities for young entrepreneurs to accelerate industrialisation across the South-East.
Mbah also called on the National Assembly to provide adequate funding for the commission to enable it to execute strategic projects capable of transforming the region’s economy.
The governor made the call on Monday, October 12, when he received the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission, led by its chairman, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, at the Government House, Enugu.
The delegation, which included the commission’s Managing Director, Mr. Mark Okoye, was in the state as part of an oversight visit to assess the commission’s projects, programmes and operational activities.
Mbah described the committee as critical to the development of the South-East, noting that the commission offered an opportunity to coordinate investments and address longstanding infrastructure and economic challenges facing the region.
Mbah Seeks Regional Gas Pipeline
The governor identified a high-pressure gas pipeline linking major cities across the five South-East states as a priority project that could provide industries with reliable energy and stimulate large-scale manufacturing.
He argued that the region should benefit more directly from the gas resources produced within the wider southern part of Nigeria, particularly through infrastructure that would improve access to gas for industrial and commercial activities.
Mbah said the SEDC could serve as the institutional platform for coordinating and implementing a project of such magnitude.
He maintained that reliable energy supply would strengthen the competitiveness of businesses, attract investments and create opportunities for industrial growth across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
Proposes Railway Network Across Five States
Mbah also proposed an inter-state railway network connecting major cities across the South-East to facilitate trade, improve the movement of people and goods, and reduce pressure on existing roads.
He urged the five state governments to work towards a common railway development plan, with the SEDC coordinating regional collaboration to ensure that the proposed network meets the collective transportation needs of the zone.
According to the governor, a coordinated approach would help prevent fragmented infrastructure planning and promote stronger economic integration among the states.
He said the proposed railway system, alongside improved energy infrastructure, could provide a foundation for a new phase of industrial development in the region.
Mbah Wants Funding for Young Entrepreneurs
Beyond infrastructure, the governor urged the commission to establish funding opportunities for young entrepreneurs whose businesses had attained the minimum viable product stage.
He said access to financing would enable promising businesses to expand their operations, create employment and contribute more significantly to the region’s economic growth.
Mbah also highlighted the commission’s potential role in agricultural development, citing the flag-off of a 200-hectare integrated Agro Development Programme at Nomeh Unateze in Enugu State as an example of its interventions.
He assured the SEDC of the state government’s support in creating an enabling environment for the successful implementation of development projects.
The governor further appealed to members of the Senate committee to support efforts to secure adequate funding for the commission, describing the proposed interventions as potential catalysts for an industrial transformation of the South-East.
Kalu Commends Mbah, Says SEDC Headquarters Issue Resolved
Earlier, Senator Kalu commended the Mbah administration for its reported investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, water supply and transportation.
He highlighted the development of Smart Green Schools, more than 7,000 classrooms, Type II primary healthcare centres across the state’s 260 electoral wards, and investments in multimodal transportation.
Kalu also acknowledged efforts to strengthen relations between the South-East and the Federal Government, while thanking President Bola Tinubu for facilitating the establishment of the SEDC.
The senator disclosed that the disagreement over the location of the commission’s headquarters had been resolved following the Enugu State Government’s provision of temporary office accommodation and a site for its permanent headquarters.
He thanked Mbah for the support extended to the commission and expressed the Senate committee’s continued commitment to its activities.
The proposed gas pipeline, regional railway and entrepreneurship financing initiatives are expected to feature prominently in discussions on coordinated development and industrial growth across the South-East.