By Muhyideen Jimoh
The Democratic Front (TDF), a pro-democracy think tank, has commended President Bola Tinubu for opening the South-East to more economic opportunities through the ongoing construction of the 123.6km Trans-Sahara Superhighway project.
The highway, which stretches from Ebonyi through parts of the South-South to Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa States in the North-Central zone, is being constructed at a cost of N668 billion.
In a statement issued by its Chairman, Malam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Wale Adedayo, on Friday, the group described the project as a demonstration of the President’s vision and commitment to inclusive national development.
TDF said that although several road projects were ongoing in the South-East, the scale and economic significance of the superhighway made it one of the most important infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the region.
“It is interesting to hear from the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, that the superhighway was a colonial-era infrastructural dream abandoned by successive administrations due to lack of funds and political will.
“In addition to its economic and trade relevance to the South-East, the highway will ease interstate transportation, enhance commerce and promote social and cultural interactions among Nigerians across the connected states”.
The group said Tinubu had prioritised the development of the South-East since assuming office.
According to TDF, one of the administration’s landmark interventions was the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) alongside other regional development commissions.
It noted that the commission received N140 billion as take-off funding to address longstanding developmental challenges in the region.
“We recall that the President graciously established the South East Development Commission and mobilised it with N140 billion as an initial take-off grant to tackle developmental challenges that have remained unresolved since the post-civil war era.
“We find it important to note that the South-East has consistently advocated greater federal attention since the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970.”
The group maintained that the scale of development projects currently underway in the region had surpassed interventions by previous administrations.
“The slew of developmental interventions witnessed in the South-East under the Tinubu administration in the last three years has remarkably surpassed the efforts of previous governments.
“To this end, we commend President Tinubu for ensuring an equitable spread of development projects across the country, irrespective of political affiliations,” Muhammad added.
TDF also attributed the government’s infrastructure drive to the economic reforms introduced under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the group, the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of foreign exchange rates have provided the resources needed to fund critical national projects.
It urged residents of the South-East to continue supporting the administration to ensure the timely completion of the Trans-Sahara Superhighway and other ongoing projects in the region.
