The South East Development Commission: Planning, Expectations and the Funding Question

Following the SEDC Story From the Beginning

IF you have been following this page and even my work as a journalist, you will realize how closely we have followed matters pertaining to the South East Development Commission SEDC. It started right from when the SEDC bill was passed by the Senate in 2024 after similar passage at the Lower Chamber, to the inauguration of the commission the following year by President Bola Tinubu, upto its Vision 2050 Stakeholders Forum this year. The focus on this regional development commission lies majorly in seeing the South East prosper.

The Infrastructure Question in the South East

While the region has been highly eulogized as peopled with industrious citizens, the whispered and sometimes openly expressed thoughts, is that much of that industriousness are majorly birthed and flourish outside the region, sometimes to the detriment of region's economic growth. One of the culprits for that unintentional exodus has been the lack of adequate infrastructure to facilitate the nature of business its people do. From roads, to electricity, to railways, to seaport and others.

In early 2024, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, specifically called on the Federal Government to commit at least $10 billion toward South East infrastructure development to address decades of perceived neglect.

Expectations From Government and the SEDC

It's expected that various state governments should have taken this challenge. However, since this was not forthcoming, it was natural to look up to the SEDC to fill that gap.

Tony Nwoye’s Challenge to the Commission

It was therefore interesting to watch the Senator representing Anambra North, Tony Nwoye yesterday engage the Managing Director of the South East Development Commission, Mr. Mark Okoye on the developmental efforts of the commission. The senator's point of view was simple- there was no need embarking on conferences when the region is hungry for the most basic infrastructure including roads, schools and others.

Understanding the Vision 2050 Stakeholders Forum

If you all recall, the SEDC Vision 2050 was launched not too long ago( a story we followed up in order to inform the people whom it should concern). The forum birthing its launch which held in Enugu was aimed at drawing ideas from various stakeholders "to align priorities, validate strategies, and chart a coordinated pathway for South East Nigeria’s long-term development....." And "to interrogate constraints, align sectoral priorities, and agree on actionable pathways toward inclusive growth, resilience, and shared prosperity through 2050"

Not many people including Senator Nwoye may understand this.

Why Planning Is Part of the SEDC Mandate

In our past radio conversations on the SEDC, our focus had been on "Identifying Key Projects and Implementing the Functions of the South East Development Commission". Not until our latest conversation during the SEDC Vision 2050 did we deem it fit to talk about the planning phase of the commission.

For indeed why infrastructural development is one of major mandates of the commission, it is also mandated to "conceive, plan and implement projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the South East States in the field of transportation including roads, health, education, employment, agriculture, industrialization, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and telecommunications."

The conception and planning phase is apparently what the SEDC Vision 2050 Stakeholders' Forum intended to do. Like the saying goes, "a man who fails to plan, plans to fail"

The Debate: Slow Pace or Public Impatience?

However, disparate opinions are bound to emerge on how long this planning should go on , its nature, the cost and whether it is needed at all. Understandably so, due to obvious reasons.

So the question then arises, is the SEDC sluggish in carrying the vision carved out for it, or are the people being too pushy in demanding immediate implementation of its mandate. Having been inaugurated last year, is it too long a time not to have executed any project?

The Funding Challenge

While we debate on this matter, let's not also forget that prior to the Vision 2050 Stakeholders'Forum, Okoye had revealed that the commission was yet to get its 150 billion naira take off grant.

Meanwhile, during yesterday's budget defence, he further revealed that the commission received only N5 billion from its 2025 allocation last December, with about N957 million spent primarily on stakeholders’ engagement, media outreach and investment promotion.

“We have paid no salaries, no allowances, no emoluments. Everyone has contributed to ensure that we continue to proceed forward,” said Okoye.

Meanwhile, this year 140 billion naira is being proposed by the commission.

The Elephant in the Room

So while we question the slow pace of work, the issue of funding is staring us in the face. That my friend is the big elephant in the room.

Looking Ahead to 2026

PS: Okoye has termed 2026 "execution year". So, we will just wait and see as events unfold.