Governor Peter Mbah has urged the South-East Development Commission to prioritise regional gas pipeline and railway projects to accelerate economic growth.

Mr Mbah said the proposed infrastructure would boost industrial activities, improve connectivity among the five South-East states and strengthen regional integration.

The governor made the call on Monday after receiving a Senate committee on the SEDC delegation led by its chairman, Orji Kalu. He urged the National Assembly to ensure adequate funding for the commission, describing it as a strategic platform for addressing the region’s development needs.

“For us in the South-East, this committee is one of the most important committees of the National Assembly, given the immense development prospects it holds for our people,” he said.

Mr Mbah identified a high-pressure gas pipeline connecting major cities across the region as critical to providing industries with reliable gas supplies and stimulating large-scale industrial development. He argued that the South-East should benefit from gas resources produced across the wider southern region, noting that pipelines already transport gas to other parts of Nigeria.

The governor also proposed an inter-state railway network linking major cities across the five states to facilitate trade, improve transportation and ease pressure on roads. He urged the states to collaborate on a common railway design, with the SEDC providing a platform for coordination and regional cooperation.

Mr Mbah highlighted the commission’s role in supporting agriculture and technology-driven enterprises, citing the flag-off of a 200-hectare integrated Agro Development Programme at Nomeh Unateze, Enugu.

He urged the senators to support efforts to secure the funding needed to implement the project, describing it as a potential catalyst for an industrial revolution.

Mr Kalu commended the Mbah administration’s interventions in infrastructure, education, healthcare, water supply and transportation. He cited the development of Smart Green Schools, more than 7,000 classrooms, Type II primary healthcare centres across the state’s 260 electoral wards, and its multimodal transportation system.

Mr Kalu also acknowledged Mr Mbah’s efforts to strengthen engagement between the South-East and the federal government. He thanked President Bola Tinubu for facilitating the establishment of the SEDC.

The senator said the issue of the commission’s headquarters had been resolved after the Enugu government provided temporary office accommodation and a site for its permanent headquarters. He thanked Mr Mbah for supporting the commission’s take-off and assured him of the committee’s continued support for its activities.

(NAN)