The Vice Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Lagos State, Mrs. Maureen Ashara, has commended President Bola Tinubu and Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for signing the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill into law.
In a press statement, Ashara described the SEDC as a transformative initiative aimed at addressing the South-East region’s infrastructure deficit and fostering regional integration. She emphasized its potential to rehabilitate the region, which suffered significant damages during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970).
“I see the signing of the SEDC Bill into law as a game changer for the South-East. It is a vehicle for rehabilitation and future transformation of the region. Igbos are naturally hardworking, but the lack of enabling laws and an enabling environment has slowed their progress. This commission will trigger much-needed regional integration among the five South-East states—Ebonyi, Imo, Abia, Enugu, and Anambra,” Ashara stated.
Ashara also linked the SEDC to the “Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation” (RRR) policy initiahited by General Yakubu Gowon after the Civil War, highlighting that the policy was not fully implemented. She expressed hope that the SEDC would finally address the region’s long-standing developmental challenges and heal historical wounds.
“This vehicle can be the harbinger of regional integration and transformation that the South-East desperately needs,” Ashara concluded.
