Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has said that the South East Development Commission (SEDC) was conceived to drive structural transformation rather than routine administrative activities.
Shettima stated this on Wednesday while unveiling the SEDC Vision 2050 in Enugu, describing the economic blueprint as a major departure from short-term approaches that have failed to deliver sustainable results.
“This is not another layer of bureaucracy; it is a delivery institution focused on tangible outcomes that translate into jobs, productivity, and growth.
“The South-East carries a unique historical burden, which makes deliberate regional planning both urgent and necessary,” the Vice President said.
He further announced that President Bola Tinubu had approved the establishment of the South-East Investment Company Limited, designed to mobilise resources from the diaspora, capital markets, and development finance institutions for the region’s development.
According to him, the company will work in synergy with the commission to address post-war infrastructure deficits and drive long-term regional competitiveness.
In his remarks, Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, said the South-East must be reimagined and developed into a common market and economic bloc to realise its full potential as an economic powerhouse.
Mbah emphasised that the region could no longer afford to operate as five parallel states.
He commended President Tinubu for establishing the commission, noting that it demonstrated a clear understanding that regional development does not occur in isolation.
“I am here to invite you to a bold reimagining of the South-East as a single economic bloc.
“For too long, we have viewed our five states as individual islands, but the era of the solitary path is over.
“Today, I propose the birth of the South East Common Market — a bold, borderless unification of our commerce, our talent, and our industrial grit.
“By fusing our five distinct economies into one powerhouse, we are no longer negotiating for a seat at the table; we are building the table ourselves,” he said.
Governors Charles Soludo of Anambra, Alex Otti of Abia, and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi attended the summit, while Imo State was represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
