.Analysts decry region’s exclusion from $2.99bn rail contracts
.Umahi cites N454bn Benue-Ebonyi road, assures regional spread
.Says FG borrowing N34 trn for projects
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The apparent absence of the South-East in the list of several federal governments’ flagship infrastructure projects has reignited a longstanding national conversation about equity, inclusion and balanced development across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The development comes as the Minister of Works, Engr Dave Umahi, declares that the prevailing borrowing spree by the federal government is compelled by the need to adequately finance N34 trillion to drive infrastructure projects spread across the country.
Many Nigerians who spoke with our correspondent expressed concern that, despite trillions of naira committed to major rail and highway projects across the country since 2015, the South-East appears to have received comparatively marginal of no transformative federal infrastructure investment.
The issue gained renewed attention after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved about $2.99 billion for three rail projects including the Lagos Green Line, Kano Metro Rail and Kaduna Light Rail.
Critics argue that while the projects are expected to significantly improve transportation and economic activities in their respective regions, the South-East was once again absent from the list.
Questions have also been raised over other landmark projects including the Lagos-Sokoto Superhighway, which is expected to boost connectivity across the North; and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway traversing parts of the South-West and South-South.
Many observers note that the absence of a similarly ambitious project in the South-East reinforces the perception that the region has been systematically overlooked or schemed out in national development planning.
Political Science student, Khaleed Yazeed, on his social media post condemned the development, saying the pattern of project distribution has continued to fuel feelings of exclusion among many people in the Southeast region.
“It has been more than 55 years since the end of the Nigerian civil war, yet many in the South-East still believe they are waiting for fairness in the allocation of federal infrastructure, key appointments, railway lines, gas pipelines and other strategic national assets,” he said.
He called on administrations of the federal governments to make deliberate efforts to address the glaring imbalance and ensure that every region enjoys a fair share of developmental projects in the interest of national cohesion.
Also, a legal practitioner and economist, Dr. Charles Ajaegbu, believes the situation is largely political rather than economic or social.
“The neglect predates the current administration, although many people believe it has become more pronounced in recent years,” he said.
Ajaegbu argued that apart from the Second Niger Bridge, the South-East has not benefited from major federal industrial or infrastructure projects comparable to those undertaken in other parts of the country.
“Over 50 years after the civil war, there has been no major infrastructural or industrial project in the East, except perhaps the Second Niger Bridge. There are also concerns that people from the region have not been adequately represented in some strategic national institutions,” he stated.
He further alleged that plans to locate the Ajaokuta Steel Plant in Onitsha before it was eventually sited in Kogi State reflected a pattern of missed opportunities for the region.
According to him, the federal government faces no significant constraints in executing major projects in the South-East.
“In fact, the entrepreneurial spirit of the people should naturally make the region an attractive destination for industrial and infrastructure investments. Such projects would ultimately benefit the entire country,” he added.
An octogenarian and retired administrator, Mr. Patrick Eze, who worked with Shell and also with Paterson Zochonis (PZ), shared similar sentiments but urged a more evidence-based assessment of the issue.
“I must be quite honest with you. There is a widespread perception that the South-East has suffered neglect since after the civil war,” he said.
“However, to discuss the matter objectively requires detailed research and verifiable evidence because many parts of the country have also experienced developmental challenges.”
Eze observed that while the South-East may feel disadvantaged, infrastructure deficits remain a national problem affecting several regions.
Offering another perspective, development an analyst, argued that although political considerations may have contributed to the situation, other factors such as insecurity, corruption, difficult terrain and administrative inefficiency have also affected the implementation of projects in the region.
According to him, the long-running reconstruction of the Akpoha-Afikpo Road in Ebonyi State illustrates how multiple challenges can combine to delay project delivery.
He noted that inadequate funding had slowed work on the road for years, while allegations of misappropriation prompted investigations by previous state administrations.
He also pointed to security concerns, recalling that attacks on workers created an atmosphere of uncertainty around the project.
“When construction workers are killed or threatened, contractors naturally become reluctant, and projects are delayed or abandoned,” he said.
Beyond security issues, he explained that the difficult terrain around the Afikpo Valley presents significant engineering challenges requiring specialized expertise and substantial financial commitment.
He added that reports of poor job and inconsistent project supervision had further complicated efforts to complete the road.
“Poor funding, insecurity, difficult landscape, maladministration and inefficiency have all combined to slow the project,” he stated.
He also referred to concerns surrounding the Eastern rail corridor, noting that some state governments had objected to the decision to retain narrow-gauge tracks for the South-East while standard-gauge systems were approved for other regions.
According to him, the resulting disagreements contributed to delays in the implementation of the project.
“There is a perception that discriminatory policy choices have affected the progress of the rail project, and this has created dissatisfaction among the states involved,” he said.
However, the Federal Government insists that the South-East is not being neglected and maintains that significant investments are currently underway across the region.
Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, recently expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work during an inspection of the Ndibe Beach section connected to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
According to him, the project extends from the Calabar end of the coastal highway toward Ndibe Beach in Afikpo and is designed to strengthen economic integration between the South-East and South-South.
Umahi disclosed that the corridor comprises about 123 kilometres of reinforced concrete pavement with solar-powered street lighting at an estimated cost of about N454 billion.
He described the Ndibe crossing as a “unity bridge,” saying it reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fostering harmony and stronger economic ties between the two geopolitical zones.
The minister further stated that the Federal Government is currently executing heritage, legacy and ongoing projects valued at about N34 trillion across the country, with the South-East included in the overall infrastructure programme.
He explained that government borrowing is largely intended to finance such strategic projects.
“When people say we are borrowing, we are borrowing because of projects like these. We are investing in infrastructure so that the roads will serve generations without requiring constant reconstruction,” Umahi said.
A senior official in the Ministry of Works, who asked not to be identified, also dismissed suggestions that projects in the South-East were being deliberately delayed.
According to the official, the ministry is prioritizing strict adherence to engineering standards to ensure durability and value for money.
He cited the recent criticism by the minister of alleged substandard work by China Civil Engineering Construction Company Limited (CCECC) on the rehabilitation of the Aba-bound section of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
“The ministry will not accept poor-quality or non-compliant work from any contractor. We are taking our time to ensure that projects are executed according to specifications and that Nigerians get lasting infrastructure,” the official said.
As the debate continues, the controversy has once again drawn attention to the broader issue of balanced regional development and the need for infrastructure investments that inspire confidence among all sections of the country.
For many observers, the challenge extends beyond roads and rail lines to the larger question of whether every part of Nigeria enjoys an equitable place in the nation’s long-term development agenda.
