A group of Igbo indigenes living in Abuja, under the umbrella of Igbo Community Association FCT, has commended Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for his courage to appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for seaport and railway infrastructure in the South east.
Soludo while addressing President Tinubu, during a state visit by the later on Thursday had told the president that putting together such infrastructure would eliminate structured developmental gaps in the zone.
Soludo had said: “We must eliminate the structured developmental gap that has long marginalized the South East. A seaport in Onitsha, coupled with robust rail connectivity, will transform our region into a hub of commerce and opportunity.”
Reacting to the call, President General of the group, Mr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe in a press statement he signed on behalf of the group said Soludo should be commended for the courage to raise the conversation, and that Tinubu should also address it, to give the South east a sense of belonging in Nigeria.
The statement read: “The Igbo Community Association FCT applauded the call. For too long, the South East has lagged behind in federal infrastructure investment.
“While other regions boast seaports and extensive rail systems, our communities still contend with limited access to these critical arteries of development. We therefore respectfully urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to heed the call.”
“We charge Tinubu do a green-light feasibility studies for the construction of a modern seaport in Onitsha, leveraging its strategic location on the River Niger and its role as a commercial epicenter.
“We also call on him to commission the rehabilitation and expansion of existing rail corridors—particularly the Eastern Line—to link Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri, and Port Harcourt, thereby fostering intra-regional mobility and attracting private sector investment.”
The group also called for the prioritization of equitable federal allocation toward South East infrastructure projects in the 2026 budget, ensuring that the region’s developmental needs are met and at par with other geo-political zones.
It praised Soludo for his leadership and foresight, saying it stands ready to collaborate with his government, other state governments within the region and the federal government, to make these transformative projects a reality.
