South-East governors pledge N25bn to revive regional development projects

Governors of the five South-East states have committed to contribute N5 billion each to support the proposed N140 billion budget of the South-East Development Commission, injecting fresh funds intended to revive stalled regional projects.

The pledge adds a combined N25 billion to the commission’s intervention pool and signals a coordinated effort by state governments to strengthen the institution’s capacity to deliver development programmes.

The disclosure came from Orji Uzor Kalu, who said the decision followed consultations with state leaders and stakeholders concerned about the commission’s limited funding and delayed projects.

He explained that the commission struggled to execute its mandate previously due to inadequate financial releases, which led to the suspension of multiple infrastructure and economic initiatives across the region.

The South-East Development Commission was created to drive infrastructure expansion, industrial growth and social investments across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.

Its responsibilities include coordinating major interventions in transport, health, education and enterprise development.

Lawmakers reviewing the proposal described the governors’ intervention as a practical example of regional collaboration. Senator Mohammed Monguno, representing the Senate Appropriations leadership at the session, commended the initiative and suggested that other geopolitical zones could adopt similar counterpart funding arrangements.

The additional contribution is expected to accelerate ongoing projects, particularly in health and education, and restore confidence in the commission’s development agenda.

With the fresh allocation, policymakers hope the commission can restart suspended initiatives, improve infrastructure delivery and stimulate economic activity across the South-East.

The move also reflects a growing trend of subnational governments taking more direct responsibility for regional growth strategies amid tightening federal finances.