Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently address the long-standing exclusion of the South East region from key national infrastructure plans, including the railway network, gas master plan, and port development projects.
Speaking on Thursday during the President’s visit to Anambra to commission various state-level projects, Governor Soludo said that unlocking the economic potential of the South East is crucial for Nigeria’s broader development and industrial growth.
Federal Road Projects Appreciated, But More Is Needed
While commending President Tinubu for several ongoing federal road projects in Anambra—worth hundreds of billions of naira—Soludo stressed that more strategic federal interventions are required to redress the region’s marginalisation in national planning.
“We are deeply grateful for several road projects currently being executed by your administration that benefit Anambra state… When completed, they will be important gamechangers for our people,” Soludo said.
Projects highlighted include:
- The Enugu-Onitsha Expressway
- The Rehabilitation of the Onitsha-Owerri Road
- Phase 2B Access Road to the Second Niger Bridge
- The Oba-Nnewi Road (Section II)
Soludo: South East Missing from National Rail and Gas Plans
Despite these investments, Soludo noted that the South East is entirely excluded from the national railway expansion, the gas pipeline network, and other strategic infrastructural frameworks.
“The Southeast, and Anambra in particular, is bypassed by the national gas master plan despite abundant reserves of natural gas. We are not part of the national rail system,” he lamented.
He also reminded the President that the Onitsha River Port, commissioned in 1982 under President Shehu Shagari, remains dormant due to a lack of dredging to make it functional.
“Only Asiwaju, the man who tamed the Atlantic, can break this 43-year-old jinx so that barges from Onne and other seaports can easily discharge at Onitsha,” Soludo said, referencing Tinubu’s infrastructural feats in Lagos.
Erosion and Neglected Federal Roads: Critical Needs
The governor also highlighted severe erosion problems in Anambra, which he described as “possibly the gully erosion capital of the world.” He explained that while the state is already spending tens of billions of naira, the magnitude of the challenge far exceeds the financial capacity of a state government.
Additionally, Soludo pointed to an abandoned federal road project connecting Anambra to Kogi State, which, if completed, could cut travel time from the South East to Abuja from nine hours to three.
“To leapfrog our transformation, we need strategic interventions. These are beyond our means as a sub-national entity,” he said.
South East Marginalisation: A Longstanding Concern
Soludo’s remarks underscore growing discontent over the perceived marginalisation of the South East in national development priorities. However, he expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s capacity to redress these imbalances, describing him as a leader capable of undertaking bold infrastructural reforms.
“We are convinced that, systematically, these issues will be addressed,” the governor concluded.
Conclusion
As President Tinubu continues his infrastructure agenda across the nation, Governor Soludo’s appeal places a spotlight on the urgent need for equitable national development, especially in historically sidelined regions like the South East. Addressing these concerns could not only boost regional growth but also promote national unity and inclusive prosperity.
