By Clem Aguiyi
Email: totalpolitics@ymail.com
The recent inauguration of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) by the Minister of Regional Development, Alhaji Abubakar Momoh marks a significant milestone for the economic landscape of Nigeria’s South East region. Spearheaded by President Bola Tinubu to whom I must give all due credits; he is the first Nigerian President since after the civil that took the bold, strong and proactive step to give the South East a Development Commission of its own.
Recall that between 1966 -1970, the South East was a theatre of war that gravely devastated the region. Described as Africa’s deadliest war, millions of deaths were recorded in that ugly war. The 3Rs initiated by the then military government headed by General Yakubu Gowon’s was hurriedly abandoned. Nothing was reconstructed and Nigeria never reconciled. The rehabilitation that was attempted was that the starving people received palliatives but their properties seized as abandoned properties and all the money they held in banks across Nigeria reduced to twenty pounds. The wound remains and the children of the war whose parents were mistreated still harbour deep grudges.
The South East was not one of the regions that Tinubu won during his presidential election. Out of the five South Eastern States, he didn’t win a state, yet he kept to his words to the people. Not only did he accent to the Act establishing the South East Development commission, he took the proactive step to compose the Board. The Board of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) is comprised of: Dr. Emeka Wogu (Chairman), Mr. Mark C. Okoye (Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer): Barr. Sylvester Okonkwo, FCAI (Executive Director, Corporate Service); Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka (Executive Director, Finance): Hon. Toby Okechukwu (Executive Director, Projects), Sen. Anthony Agbo (Executive Director, Commercial and Industrial Development) Dr. Clifford Ogbede (Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development)
In addition to the executive management team, the SEDC Board includes esteemed members from diverse professional and regional backgrounds, whose expertise will be instrumental in shaping the Commission’s policies and projects. This distinguished group comprises Barr. Ugochukwu H. Agballah, Hon. Okey Ezenwa, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Barr. Ifeanyi Agwu, Hon. Nasiru Usman, Hon. Hamma Adama Ali Kumo, H.E. Edward David Onoja, Hon. Orure Kufre Inima, and Chief (Mrs.) Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma. Together, their collective experience and dedication will be pivotal in ensuring that the SEDC fulfills its mandate of fostering integrated and sustainable development throughout the South East. I sincerely commend all these talents assembled by the President who found the worthy to play a critical role at this critical moment.
The SEDC’s primary mandate encompasses the promotion of sustainable economic growth, infrastructure development, and social cohesion in the South East. This involves creating a conducive environment for investment, fostering entrepreneurship, and enhancing the region’s overall economic prospects.
However, to translate these objectives into tangible outcomes, it is essential for the Commission to operate within a collaborative framework that includes the South East Governors’ Forum. Building a safe and secure South East remain key. Ensuring regional security of lives is a low hanging fruit for the commission to collaborate with the governors to achieve.
Having gone through a brutal civil war, the region cannot afford the needless round of violence that is being perpetrated by criminal elements hiding under separatist agitation. How many times can a people be fooled for them to realize they have been properly fooled. Already the region has cumulatively lost over three years by sitting at home every ‘Holy’ Monday. Unfortunately, the world is moving on, as time waits for no one. If the South East must grow to its full potential, then the region must get to work, creating industries and services that works 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days in a year. Every hour must count and every penny worth saving must be saved.
The South East Development Commission should be deliberate in building synergy with the South East Governors’ Forum: The South East Governors’ Forum, comprising the elected leaders of the region, plays a pivotal role in shaping policies and initiatives that impact the local populace. By establishing a cooperative relationship with the Forum, the SEDC can leverage the governors’ insights, local knowledge, and political capital, ensuring that development strategies are not only well-informed but also widely supported.
Now that the Board has been inaugurated, the SEDC should engage the Governors’ Forum in a series of strategic planning sessions aimed at identifying priority areas for development. This collaborative and joint developing planning approach can help align the Commission’s initiatives with the specific needs and aspirations of the local communities among which is peace, security, law and order as I already emphasized. Series of opinion polls conducted between January 2024 -December 2024 by the Good Governance Movement indicates that insecurity is the biggest worries of the people. 75% of farmers sampled said they feel unsafe to go to the farms. 80% of the people said they stay at home on Mondays for fear of being harmed by Unknown Gunmen or Sit at Home Enforcers.
With the governors’ support, the SEDC can work to mobilize resources from both public and private sectors. This includes seeking investment from domestic and international partners while advocating for federal support to enhance the region’s development projects. With the governors that can pull resources together to ensure that all major cities in the South East are connected by rail or at the barest minimum well maintained super highways.
Need I over emphasize that the SEDC should collaborate with the Governors’ Forum to develop policies that address the unique challenges faced by the South East. This cooperation can lead to the creation of a comprehensive development framework that promotes infrastructure, education, healthcare, and more importantly agriculture. According to the NBS data, Nigeria’s food cost soared by up to 95% within five months and the South East being the most severely impacted.
The South East despite having arable lands for agriculture also suffer limited land space. This factor can be mitigated by introducing greenhouse agriculture, irrigation of our coastal beds etc. The commission must remain focused and not be a jack of all trade. The impact it must make must be tangible for the people to feel and testify that indeed the change has come. It’s my opinion that the new board sees themselves as the pace setters. They may need to make enormous sacrifice, eschew rancour and bitterness and work with commitment for the betterment and happiness of the people. SEDC must clearly understudy the failures of earlier Development Commissions like the Niger Delta Development Commission, identify why it failed and take the advantage of a late comer as they cannot afford to make similar mistakes like the former.
Establishing a robust monitoring and evaluation system is crucial to assess the effectiveness of initiatives undertaken by the SEDC. In partnership with the Governors’ Forum, the SEDC can develop metrics that measure progress and impact, allowing for timely adjustments to strategies as needed. A strong legislative oversight must be encouraged.
For the SEDC to be truly effective, it must also engage local communities in the development process. Public consultations and community forums can help gather insights and foster a sense of ownership among residents. By integrating local voices into the decision-making process, the Commission can enhance the relevance and sustainability of its initiatives. This Commission is for the people. Putting the people at the heart of every policy and project must be prioritised.
The South East Development Commission has the potential to be a transformative force in the region, but its success hinges on effective collaboration with the South East Governors’ Forum and active engagement with local communities. By fostering unity and strategic partnerships, the SEDC can drive economic integration and development, paving the way for a prosperous future for the South East of Nigeria. It is time for all stakeholders to come together, harnessing their collective strengths to realize the dreams of a thriving and integrated South East. The region, no doubt boasts of enterprising billionaires at home and abroad and this is the time for them to think home, bring their time, talent and treasure to industrialise the homeland.
