Tinubu Reveals Why He Signed South East Development Commission Bill, Announces Investment Plans

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his decision to sign the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill into law was informed by his belief that the economic prosperity of the South East is inseparable from Nigeria’s overall development.

Tinubu spoke on Tuesday at the South East Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Investment Ceremony in Enugu, where he was represented by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.

The President, who assented to the SEDC legislation in July 2024, said the commission was established to provide sustained institutional support for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and long-term development of the South East region.

According to him, the growth of commercial and industrial centres such as Aba, Nnewi and Onitsha would have a positive impact on the wider Nigerian economy.

“I have always believed that the prosperity of the South East is inseparable from the prosperity of Nigeria. When Aba’s industries thrive, when Nnewi’s factories expand, and when commerce flourishes in Onitsha, the entire Nigerian economy benefits,” he said.

Tinubu added that Nigeria could not achieve its full economic potential while any region operated below its productive capacity, describing the establishment of the SEDC as consistent with the objectives of his Renewed Hope Agenda.

He stressed that the commission must focus on delivering measurable development outcomes rather than becoming another layer of bureaucracy.

“We must measure its success by the investments it mobilises, the infrastructure it enables, the opportunities it creates, and the lives it improves,” the President said.

Tinubu commended the SEDC Chairman, Dr. Emeka Wogu, the board and management led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mark Okoye, for advancing the commission’s development agenda.

He also acknowledged the South East Vision 2050 initiative, supported by the Federal Government and governors in the region, as an important framework for coordinated economic growth.

The President further disclosed that he had approved the South East Investment Company, explaining that the initiative was designed to use public resources to attract greater private-sector investment.

According to him, development institutions must identify strategic economic opportunities, prepare credible projects and deploy public funds responsibly to mobilise private capital beyond what government budgets alone can provide.

Tinubu Lists Infrastructure Projects for South East

The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving critical infrastructure across the South East, particularly roads, rail connections, electricity and access to markets.

He identified the Enugu–Onitsha and Enugu–Port Harcourt road corridors, infrastructure supporting the Second Niger Bridge and the Eastern railway corridor among the projects intended to improve connectivity and economic activity.

Tinubu said the government’s objective was not merely to award contracts but to deliver infrastructure capable of reducing business costs, expanding trade and creating employment opportunities.

He also noted that reforms in the electricity sector were creating opportunities for state governments and private investors to strengthen power supply.

Gas Pipeline Project Targets Five South East States

On the proposed South East Gas Distribution Pipeline Project, Tinubu said the initiative would establish a regional gas distribution network to serve industrial and commercial users in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.

He described natural gas as a critical resource for industrial competitiveness, noting that its economic value should be measured by the factories it powers, the jobs it generates and the opportunities it creates.

The President also referenced the Assa North–Ohaji South gas processing project in Imo State, which he said had achieved first gas earlier in 2026, as an opportunity to connect domestic gas resources to productive industries.

He said the proposed distribution network could support manufacturing in Aba, strengthen industrial clusters in Nnewi and Onitsha, attract investment to Enugu and expand agro-processing and manufacturing opportunities in Ebonyi.

The project, he added, would also strengthen the connection between Imo State’s gas resources and the wider regional economy.

“Gas infrastructure must therefore serve industries and markets, not stop at political boundaries. That is the economic logic of regional integration,” Tinubu said.

President Urges South East Governors to Cooperate

Tinubu called on governors in the South East to sustain cooperation, stressing that no state could independently realise the full economic benefits of regional infrastructure.

He said the Federal Government would continue to provide an enabling environment for businesses, while state governments, investors and private-sector operators would need to work together to turn proposed projects into productive investments.

Addressing investors and entrepreneurs, the President urged them to explore the region’s industrial potential and commit capital, expertise and resources to long-term economic development.

He also said the initiative was intended to create a future in which young people in the South East could find greater opportunities to apply their skills, grow businesses and pursue their ambitions.

Tinubu charged the SEDC and its partners to move beyond the investment ceremony with a clear implementation plan, defined milestones and measurable results.

He said the project’s success should ultimately be judged by the factories it powers, the investments it attracts and the jobs it creates.

“For generations, the people of the South East have built successful businesses despite inadequate infrastructure. Our responsibility is to help build an economy in which they can succeed because of the infrastructure we provide,” the President said.