Sen. Kenneth Eze protests exclusion of South East Zone from 380b irrigation budget

Chinedu Ngwuta, Abakaliki

The Senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial District and Chairman Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Senator Kenneth Eze has urged the Federal Government to urgently address the imbalance in the allocation of the three hundred and eighty billion naira (#380) Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund for irrigation development projects across the country in the 2025 budget,

Senator Eze who made the call at Thursday’s plenary emphasized the exclusion of the South East Geopolitical zone in the budget has made it imbalance and as such not acceptable by the people of the Geopolitical zone

He argued that there was no way the entire zone would be excluded from benefitting from the three hundred and eighty billion naira (#380) irrigation development fund and people of their caliber will seat akimbo in the the National Assembly.

Senator Eze who is the Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Water Resources and Sanitation made the call in a Motion he title “Urgent National Importance “URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS THE IMBALANCE IN THE ALLOCATION OF THE RENEWED HOPE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE 2025 BUDGET”

He said, he observed with dismay while the River Basin Development Authorities that cover other Geopolitical zones were captured, but Anambra/Imo River Basin Development Authority which is the only River Basin Development Authority serving the entire South East Geopolitical zone was excluded.

Eze noted that his concern was the total exclusion of the South East Geopolitical zone, even Anambra/Imo River Basin Development Authority from this critical national development intervention is not only unjustifiable but also contradicts the spirit of equity, justice and balanced development that forms the cornerstone of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.

He maintained that the South East is blessed with vast arable and fertile lands across the states and has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s Agricultural sector and food production.

He informed that there are abandoned irrigation projects and dams across the region that would readily benefit from the N380 irrigation projects which includes: Ozara Okangwu Agribusiness Cluster in Ebonyi state, Ivo Dam Irrigation Project in Enugu state, Item Amagu Ikwo Rice Farm Dam in Ebonyi state, Amauzari Earth Dam in Imo state, Ifite Ogwari/Omor Dam in Anambra state among others.

He described the exclusion as worrisome adding the imbalance undermines the region’s agricultural potential and the current administration’s economic rejuvenation efforts, but could also deepen the perennial perception of marginalization and inequity in federal projects and resource distribution.