The Chairman of forum of former members of Enugu State House of Assembly, Denge Josef Onoh, has criticised the Federal Government’s recent ₦610.13 billion infrastructure approvals, saying South-East road network was completely excluded.
Reacting to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) announcements, Onoh stated that reducing the federal infrastructural intervention for the entire South-East region to 50-year private concession for a trailer park is an insult to the region’s commercial and industrial contributions to Nigeria.
Onoh said comparative allocation analysis and a critical review of the approved projects shows a “deliberate, lopsided distribution of funds”.
He said out of the ₦610.13 billion package, the South-East received a meager 3.23% in the form of a ₦19.70 billion trailer park at Aro-Ngwa, Abia State—which is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession, meaning zero direct federal capital is being spent.
Onoh provided a percentage breakdown showing how projects approved for individual states in other regions dwarf the South-East’s lone allocation:
* Ekiti State Road Reconstruction (₦159.83bn): 711.3% Higher than the South-East allocation.
* Lagos–Ibadan Expressway Maintenance (₦96.43bn): 389.5% Higher than the South-East allocation.
* Ogun State Ilara–Iselu Road (₦94.24bn): 378.4% Higher than the South-East allocation.
* Rivers State East-West Road Section (₦74.51bn): 278.2% Higher than the South-East allocation.
* Niger State Suleja–Minna Road Section (₦56.75bn): 188.1% Higher than the South-East allocation.
* Ekiti State Phase II Road Rehabilitation (₦54.52bn): 176.8% Higher than the South-East allocation.
* Ogun State Abeokuta–Iboro–Ilaro Road (₦54.12bn): 174.7% Higher than the South-East allocation.
He added that after critical analysis, the approved Aro-Ngwa trailer park is an economic dead-end for the South-East region rather than a development project.
Onoh claimed that instead of easing the cost of doing business, it will create an aggressive revenue extraction point that will penalize indigenous logistics companies and increase structural inflation for Eastern traders.
He insisted that if the current administration is serious about the Federal Character principle, the South-East must immediately be allocated direct federal funding for capital-intensive infrastructure
In conclusion, Onoh asked the current administration to see the South-East as a major player and partner in economic development of the country, promote an all inclusive governance rather than a region to be served with a slice of soaked of bread.
“Because Bread is meant to be dry, firm, or toasted. And Once bread is thoroughly soaked in water, it loses its structure, turns into unappetizing mush, and becomes practically useless and unpalatable. My region deserves better Mr. President,” he concluded.
