By The House Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC) has officially approved the 2025 budget for the Commission, raising hopes that this marks the first real step toward rebuilding a region neglected for over 54 years after the civil war.
Following the budget defence session in Abuja, the committee’s chairman, Rep. Chris Nkwonta, told journalists that the approval signals the dawn of meaningful development for the South East. The approved budget stands at N250 billion, which the Commission plans to channel into addressing critical infrastructure gaps across the region.
Nkwonta praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the SEDC bill into law, describing it as a historic moment. “After decades of abandonment, this budget will finally begin to bring government presence to the South East, especially in areas like roads, bridges, erosion control, and human capital development,” he stated.
The chairman noted that although the funds are only a starting point, they represent a crucial take-off grant for the Commission, which will also receive support from federal allocations, contributions from South East states, ecological funds, and levies from oil companies operating in the region.
Nkwonta recalled that after the civil war, the Federal Government promised to implement the “Three Rs” — Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Reconciliation — a promise largely left unfulfilled until now. “It took 54 years and six military heads of state plus five democratic presidents before real attention came our way,” he added.
He also expressed hope that once people, especially the youth, see visible development and government presence in their communities, some of the unrest and agitation in the region would gradually fade. “Development brings peace, and this is the first step toward ensuring both,” Nkwonta said.
