₦airaland Forum

chopnaira:
https://x.com/magxi500/status/2050072162921234907?s=20

Nlfpmod

abuzz33:
More on the pathetic state of power. According to online stats the whole of the South East has less than 2m electricity customers and receives 300MW from the National Grid.

To see the scale of power insufficiency contrast with countries with similar population as SE Nigeria (25-30m)

Senegal - pop 20m - 1.9GW or x6
Ghana - pop 35m - 5.26GW or x18
Zambia - pop 22m - 3.5GW or x10
Cameroon - pop 30m - 2GW or x6.5

Then you get to the rest of the world to see how backward Africa is:

Malaysia - pop 34m - 25GW or x80
Venezuela - pop 28m - 12GW or x40
Poland - pop 37m - 30GW or x100

Anambra at best gets less than 80MW out of the entire electricity allocated across 4 states. To anyone with sound mind that is a disasterous crisis that you only see in wartorn countries.

Yet none of the last 3 state governors has addressed power as a constraint because as long as there is enough power in government house and in their mansions nothing spoil.

The Tinubu administration gave state governments a lifeline out from the mess that is the national grid by devolving power to states. Power can now be generated, transmitted and distributed within states.

But where is Anambras strategy? Imo is completing the abandoned 375MW Egbema power plant and supplying 100MW to Owerri alone. Enugu has announced the construction of a 660MW coal-fired power plant. Anambra?

Soludo is dualizing roads that see little traffic, planning airport when existing one lacks traffic. He claims to be building Anambra 2.0 but the most critical he cannot see.

I urge the state government to wake up and start catalyzing power investments. Start with solar mini grids to supply areas like government quarters, schools, hospitals, business districts. Design industrial layouts properly with UNIDO, Chinese government not on political grounds but economic ones with power plant components.

abuzz33:
More on the pathetic state of power. According to online stats the whole of the South East has less than 2m electricity customers and receives 300MW from the National Grid.

To see the scale of power insufficiency contrast with countries with similar population as SE Nigeria (25-30m)

Senegal - pop 20m - 1.9GW or x6
Ghana - pop 35m - 5.26GW or x18
Zambia - pop 22m - 3.5GW or x10
Cameroon - pop 30m - 2GW or x6.5

Then you get to the rest of the world to see how backward Africa is:

Malaysia - pop 34m - 25GW or x80
Venezuela - pop 28m - 12GW or x40
Poland - pop 37m - 30GW or x100

Anambra at best gets less than 80MW out of the entire electricity allocated across 4 states. To anyone with sound mind that is a disasterous crisis that you only see in wartorn countries.

Yet none of the last 3 state governors has addressed power as a constraint because as long as there is enough power in government house and in their mansions nothing spoil.

The Tinubu administration gave state governments a lifeline out from the mess that is the national grid by devolving power to states. Power can now be generated, transmitted and distributed within states.

But where is Anambras strategy? Imo is completing the abandoned 375MW Egbema power plant and supplying 100MW to Owerri alone. Enugu has announced the construction of a 660MW coal-fired power plant. Anambra?

Soludo is dualizing roads that see little traffic, planning airport when existing one lacks traffic. He claims to be building Anambra 2.0 but the most critical he cannot see.

I urge the state government to wake up and start catalyzing power investments. Start with solar mini grids to supply areas like government quarters, schools, hospitals, business districts. Design industrial layouts properly with UNIDO, Chinese government not on political grounds but economic ones with power plant components.

OreMI22:

Governor Charles Soludo’s proposal to build a second airport in Anambra State deserves serious public scrutiny. With approximately three years and eight months remaining in his administration, the question is not whether Anambra needs development, but whether another airport is the most urgent and financially responsible priority for the state at this time.

The historical evidence from airport development across Nigeria raises important concerns about the feasibility of completing such a major project within the remaining lifespan of the current administration. Large airport projects, even in states with significantly larger revenues and financial capacity than Anambra, have often taken many years to complete.

For example, Delta State’s Asaba International Airport took about four years from commencement to opening, despite Delta being one of Nigeria’s wealthier states with significant oil-derived revenues. Bayelsa International Airport took approximately seven to eight years before reaching operational milestones. The Chinua Achebe International Airport in Anambra itself took several years from launch to commissioning. Even major federal airport projects such as the Lagos International Airport development and other national airport infrastructure projects have historically required many years of planning, adequate land acquisition, and compensation, project funding, and execution.

These examples demonstrate that airports are not simple projects that can be rushed through political timelines. They require extensive planning, land preparation, engineering studies, financing, regulatory approvals, construction, certification, and the attraction of airlines willing to operate commercially. Even when an airport is the government’s major infrastructure priority, completion within a single political term is not guaranteed.

This raises a fundamental question: why is Anambra pursuing a second airport when the existing Chinua Achebe International Airport has not yet reached its full commercial potential?

Governor Soludo’s administration has suggested that the proposed airport would serve the wider Southeast region. However, this argument requires closer examination. The Southeast already has multiple functional airports:

Imo State has the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri.
Enugu State has the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, which serves as the region’s major international airport.
Abia State is developing an airport at Nsulu, located between Umuahia and Aba.
Ebonyi State has an airport in Abakaliki, although it continues to face challenges attracting regular airline operations.
Anambra has the Chinua Achebe International airport, Umueri

Given these existing and planned airports, the question becomes: what specific regional gap is this new Anambra airport solving that cannot be addressed by improving and expanding existing Chinua Achebe International airport?

A more difficult question must also be asked: does Anambra realistically have the financial strength and passenger demand required to build an airport that can compete with established facilities such as Asaba International Airport or even its own Chinua Achebe International Airport?

Airlines do not choose airports because of political announcements. They choose airports based on passenger demand, profitability, operational efficiency, infrastructure quality, and convenience. If a new airport cannot attract airlines away from existing airports, then taxpayers may be left funding another expensive infrastructure project with limited practical value.

There is also a painful historical precedent within Anambra itself. The state previously pursued an airport project at Oba, which was eventually abandoned and later became associated with severe environmental problems, including erosion challenges. This history should encourage caution. A government must not begin another ambitious airport project without a clear, sustainable plan for completion and operation.

The deeper concern is whether large infrastructure projects are being prioritized because they genuinely serve the public interest or because they create opportunities for political visibility, financial expenditure and even opportunity for treasury looting. Across Nigeria’s history, poorly planned “white elephant” projects have consumed public resources while providing limited benefits to citizens. Indeed, many are abandoned after massive resources have been wasted on them.

Public officials who misuse government resources must remember that accountability can extend beyond their time in office. Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have previously investigated and recovered assets linked to former public officials accused of corruption. The case of former Attorney General of the Federation Malami, whose assets were targeted in corruption recovery efforts, serves as a reminder that questionable government transactions can continue to face scrutiny long after administrations leave office.

Anambra deserves development, but development must be guided by evidence, economic reality, and long-term sustainability. Anambra deserves light railway systems linking the major cities, Modular refineries and use of its massive gas resources for a power generation to make the state self-sufficient in electricity and support massive industrialization. Before committing billions of naira to another airport project, the government should first maximize the potential of Chinua Achebe International Airport, invest in roads, healthcare, education, industrial development, and improve existing infrastructure that directly affects millions of citizens.

The central question is not whether Anambra can build another airport. The question is whether Anambra can afford to build another airport that may never achieve the economic justification required to sustain it. While so many critical projects that will boost industrialization of the state, support stable electricity in the state, improve IGR & good-paying job creation through modular refineries and light rail projects are overlooked due to "lack of funds".

A responsible government must not measure success by the number of projects started, but by the number of projects completed, utilized, and delivering measurable economic benefits to the people and the state.

Cjrane2:
The same problem that has bedeviled development in Nigeria has become so intractable that unless wastage of public funds is severely punished, our politicians will continue to trap us in perpetual poverty and underdevelopment through wasteful expenditure.

Since independence, not a single hospital or university in Nigeria is of even South African standard because one government will start a university or general hospital, then the next government will abandon them and build their own equally substandard hospital without bothering to equip the already existing ones to basic standards. So we end up having multiple substandard facilities everywhere.

Why can’t Soludo focus on ensuring international cargo flights begin at the Chinua Achebe international airport by building standard cargo sheds and bringing in specialized heavy duty equipment and establishing a state agency to coordinate with Onitsha and Nnewi based importers to use chartered airfreight flights to cheaply bring cargo from China and Dubai even if it is a weekly freight flight? Many small African countries have such arrangements with Ethiopian airlines.

I think Soludo is likely looking for avenues to massively loot the state to build a war chest of funds for his presidential ambition after his tenure ends. Unfortunately for him, in Nigeria, when Igbo politicians steal, the full weight of the law will fall upon them.

One point about South Africans expelling Nigerians from their country is that they asked us to go back home and fight for your country. It is so accurate because we leave these politicians to waste our common resources that could be used to build good refineries, power plants and other good paying jobs at home using our God-given oil and other resources- to run to other countries to drag their own jobs and resources with them.

I have always been a Soludo supporter but I also know that he is frustratingly stubborn and always likes to prove a point even when he is clearly missing the point. So Soludo must be ready to forfeit all his Abuja and Isuofia properties as well as spend a long time in jail if he thinks he can merely waste resources and abandon some cleared bush paths somewhere and claim those were the billions of naira he spent on Anambra 2nd airfield. Personally I will ensure I submit multiple petitions to EFCC to investigate the veracity of claims made in reference of to this project if he abandoned it after claiming to spend billions of state funds on a clearly white elephant project

ignis:
It seems like Alex Oti has made all south east governors to wake up.

Menclothing1:
Can’t believe this the first when we have several in oyo and ogun more than 20 own by young ladies eg Arike hair sold all over Africa
Op this can’t be the first in south east

Nwaikpe:
Whoever saw this boy and took him to lead this commission had a very wicked heart towards the people the commission was meant to serve.

Have you noticed a trend? Whenever they claim they want to "give the youths a chance," they usually go for the least qualified, but make sure the person has one or two degrees from outside the country, and they sell the certificate as the qualification above all others.

With not even one formal experience, apart from being a boy-boy to politicians, just because he has an overseas degree, he was made to head a commission that could determine the pace of a whole region in respect to development.

Jayhome24:
Arrest him ad send him to prison, we have waned them to very mindful of content they are creating bt insulted us and called it freedom of madness.

PUBLIC STATEMENT

9 June 2026

SEDC AFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND FULL DISCLOSURE FOLLOWING SENATE COMMITTEE SESSION

The South East Development Commission (SEDC) today participated in an interactive session with the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission as part of the National Assembly's constitutional oversight responsibilities.

During the engagement, the Commission provided detailed briefings on its financial position, operational activities, procurement processes, institutional development, strategic partnerships, and ongoing programmes across the South East.

As part of its review, the Committee requested additional documentation relating to specific aspects of the Commission's operations and expenditure. The Commission welcomed the request and sought a short period within which to collate and transmit the materials in the level of detail required by the Committee. Following discussions, proceedings were adjourned to a later date pending submission of the requested documents, which the Commission will provide on or before 23 June 2026.

In view of public interest in the session, the Commission considers it important to clarify a number of issues that have featured prominently in public commentary.

On the Abuja Liaison Office

The expenditure relating to the Commission's Abuja Liaison Office covers the establishment and operation of a functional office facility at the Congress Building, Maitama, Abuja. It serves as the Commission's operational base for engagement with the National Assembly, federal ministries and agencies, development finance institutions, and strategic partners. The expenditure cited reflects the cumulative cost of establishing and running the office since its inauguration on 11 February 2025 to date, covering rent, operational costs, utilities, and basic fit-out works across that entire period.

The board and management have prioritised relocating to the Commission's designated headquarters in Enugu at the earliest possible opportunity. Rather than procuring an entirely new facility, which would have represented a significantly greater call on public resources, the Commission secured the transfer of an existing building from the Enugu State Government and has since entered into a formal agreement with the State Government to fast-track its rehabilitation and the Commission's transition to that facility. The contract awarded for that rehabilitation is addressed further below.

On Implied Expenditure

References to funds described as "implied expenditure" relate to a contract awarded for the rehabilitation of the Commission's headquarters facility in Enugu — a building transferred to SEDC by the Enugu State Government that requires significant work to be fit for institutional use. The contract was awarded in accordance with the Public Procurement Act 2007, following approval by the Bureau of Public Procurement and the concurrence of the supervising ministry. These commitments represent budgeted obligations that have been lawfully committed but not yet disbursed, consistent with established public sector fmancial management practice. To be precise: this money has not left the Commission's accounts.

On Expenditure to Date

It is important to note that the Commission has not received any funds from its capital budget. Notwithstanding this, and in response to the development expectations of the South East, the Commission has drawn on every available resource and goodwill to advance project development work on high-impact regional capital projects, ensuring that the necessary groundwork is in place to enable swift execution once capital releases are made.

Expenditure to date has therefore been directed towards two mutually reinforcing objectives: building the institutional foundation on which the Commission's full programme delivery rests, and advancing project development work that would ordinarily fall within the capital budget.

It is worth recalling that the Commission received its first disbursement of funds after more than ten months of being in existence. On the institutional side, expenditure has covered the payment of staff salaries and arrears for personnel who were operational from February 2025 and who continued to serve the Commission through that extended period of delayed fund releases, capacity training for seconded staff, the establishment of the Commission's operational bases in Abuja and Enugu, and the procurement of essential ICT infrastructure to bring the Commission to a basic standard of operational readiness.

On the programme and project development side, it has included the engagement of consultants for feasibility studies and due diligence on priority regional projects, among them a potential gas infrastructure partnership with significant energy and industrial implications for the South East, participation in the Intra-African Trade Fair in Algeria, from which the Commission is now in active development of a partnership with Afreximbank to co-develop a Project Preparation Fund targeting moribund industries across the region, the South East Vision 2050 Stakeholder Forum, and the launch and first-cycle investment of the South East Venture Capital Programme, which has delivered funded support to 25 startups across the South East.

Submission of Documentation

The Commission will submit comprehensive documentation, including procurement records, contract details, payment schedules, and supporting financial records, to the Senate Committee on or before 23 June 2026. SEDC remains fully committed to transparency, accountability, and cooperation with all constitutional oversight institutions.

The South East Development Commission was established to drive economic transformation, infrastructure development, investment mobilisation, and regional prosperity across the South East. The Commission remains focused on that mandate and is confident that a full review of the facts and supporting documentation will provide a complete picture of its activities and stewardship of public resources.

Issued by:

Office of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer South East Development Commission

Richtaiwo:
1 room rentage at N153m per annum. They have been asking what Tinubu did with borrowed money.

Na those people wey want repair Nigeria be dat.

mindtricks:
Continue pretending you didn't see my question. You didn't know that Otti's started is just seeing the light with his coming into the scene. Continue the APC kind of stories. They are sweet to hear.

onuman:
Ekwulobia-Orlu express way nearly completed before Buhari coup of 1983 has remained the blind sight of gov Soludo, why?

mindtricks:
Can you count how many years they were in darkness without a good leader? Since 1999.

mindtricks:
If you like be hyping shallow and substandard work. Las las, it's your people that will suffer it.

Galactics:
Show us pictures of Ekwulobia to Orumba that the fraud is constructing.

Excellent93:
While otti is still counting around 450+ roads there's a difference between a politician and a leader ..otti is a great leader

Gotocourt:
I guess all in his political zone 🤷🏿

heniford2:
fake news this is old road this man snapped to claim na new road Chia 😭😔😭 what did Ndi Anambra do to get bad government

iluvdonjazzy:
always indicate the length, that matters a lot, maybe all the length now will not be up 10 kilometers

iluvdonjazzy:
always indicate the length, that matters a lot, maybe all the length now will not be up 10 kilometers

LordBiden:
Ordinary 11 roads is what you are celebrating,go and check how many roads Abia gov. has done despite the little allocation his state gets.

iluvdonjazzy:
always indicate the length, that matters a lot, maybe all the length now will not be up 10 kilometers