By: Ike Philip Abiagom
More than two years into his administration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has, by measurable records, extended significant federal attention to the South East—arguably more than any Nigerian leader since independence. This is noteworthy, especially against the backdrop that the region did not support him at the polls in the 2023 presidential election.
Despite this reality, acknowledgment of these developments has remained difficult in some quarters, largely due to deep-seated political emotions and longstanding grievances. Yet, facts remain stubborn.
Across the South East, federal road construction is ongoing on a scale not witnessed since 1999. Long-abandoned highways in Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Imo states—many of which had become symbols of neglect—are now active construction sites under the current administration. These projects include the rehabilitation and completion of strategic federal highways linking the region’s commercial centres to other parts of the country.
Beyond road infrastructure, the South East is experiencing renewed federal engagement in areas such as infrastructure planning, proposed rail development, and emerging economic corridors designed to integrate the region more effectively into the national economy. While critics argue that roads alone cannot solve economic hardship, infrastructure remains a foundational driver of trade, investment, and long-term growth
The administration has also made conscious efforts to include South East professionals and technocrats in key federal positions, reinforcing a sense of national inclusion. Additionally, federal projects are now spread across Alaigbo in a manner that reflects a broader and more coordinated approach than has been seen in previous administrations.
On the security front, insecurity in parts of the South East is receiving more focused attention, contrasting with earlier periods when such challenges were often overlooked or underplayed. Importantly, the region has not been treated as adversarial territory despite its electoral choices—an approach that underscores a commitment to national unity over political retribution.
Admittedly, the government’s economic reforms have been painful, and many citizens continue to feel the strain.
However, proponents argue that these policies are intended to lay long-term foundations from which the South East’s entrepreneurial and business-driven population stands to benefit.
The broader truth, uncomfortable to some, is that the South East has not previously experienced this level of simultaneous federal engagement across infrastructure, appointments, security, and economic planning—neither under military rule nor during successive civilian administrations.
Continued refusal to acknowledge these realities, analysts warn, risks trapping the region in grievance-driven politics that may ultimately hinder progress. Political disagreement is legitimate, but persistent rejection of verifiable developments can amount to self-sabotage.
As history has often shown, regions that advance are those able to balance memory of past injustices with pragmatic engagement in the present. The South East’s challenge, many believe, is to recognise opportunity when it appears—regardless of political sentiment—and leverage it for collective advancement.
