Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has urged the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) to prioritise a regional gas pipeline, an interconnected railway network across major cities in the Southeast, industrial revolution, saying doing so will , boost the economy of the zone and strengthen regional integration.
Mbah also appealed to the commission and relevant federal authorities to support the projects through adequate funding and strategic inclusion in their development plans, saying that the Southeast must harness its economic potential through coordinated infrastructure development.
The governor made the call on Monday, October 12,2026, while receiving in audience, Senate Committee on South East Development led by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who paid him a courtesy visit in Government House,Enugu.
Governor Mbah described the establishment of the commission as a timely intervention with enormous potential to transform the economic fortunes of the Southeast.
He expressed appreciation to the National Assembly for providing the legislative framework for the commission and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for bringing the initiative to fruition.
According to the governor, the SEDC represents a strategic platform for addressing the region’s developmental needs through large-scale projects, coordinated investments and stronger collaboration among the five Southeast states.
He said the commission’s intervention was particularly important at a time when development priorities and budgetary allocations were being considered, stressing the need to secure adequate funding for projects capable of delivering lasting benefits to the region.
The Governor identified a high-pressure gas pipeline connecting major cities across the Southeast as one of the most transformative projects the commission could undertake, explaining that access to gas infrastructure would provide the energy foundation needed to attract industries, expand manufacturing, create employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth across the region.
He argued that a region with access to natural gas should be able to develop the infrastructure required to make the resource readily available to its industrial centres.
Mbah expressed optimism that the SEDC could serve as a stable institutional platform for coordinating and executing the proposed pipeline project, which he said could mark the beginning of an industrial revolution in the Southeast.
The governor also advocated the establishment of an interstate railway network linking major cities across the region, noting that such a system would improve connectivity, facilitate the movement of goods and passengers, and reduce pressure on existing roads.
He urged the commission to bring the Southeast states together to develop a common regional infrastructure plan that would promote integrated economic growth rather than fragmented development efforts.
On Enugu State’s development agenda, Mbah highlighted investments in education, healthcare, transportation and water infrastructure, describing them as part of his administration’s drive to transform the state across critical sectors.
He said the government had constructed more than 7,000 classrooms within three years and was implementing a Smart Green School system alongside the provision of Type 2 primary healthcare centres across the state’s 260 electoral wards.
The governor also mentioned the development of a multimodal transportation system, including Enugu Air, as part of efforts to improve connectivity and position Enugu as a major economic hub.
He commended the SEDC for its interest in agricultural development, noting that agriculture remained a major contributor to economic activity and offered significant opportunities for investment, food production and job creation.
Mbah further highlighted the importance of venture capital funding to young entrepreneurs, particularly those who had developed promising business ideas and minimum viable products but lacked the resources to expand their operations.
He said such funding could accelerate the growth of innovative businesses, create opportunities for young people and strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The governor maintained that the Southeast needed sustained investment and an enduring development strategy to translate its human and economic resources into prosperity.
He called for stronger cooperation between the commission, state governments and the Federal Government, expressing confidence that coordinated action would help deliver projects with far-reaching benefits for the region.
Mbah also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for establishing the commission, saying the initiative offered the Southeast an important opportunity to advance its development priorities through stronger engagement with the Federal Government.
He urged the commission to use its mandate to pursue strategic projects that would improve infrastructure, attract investment and enhance the region’s competitiveness assuring his administration’s commitment to working with the commission and other stakeholders to advance the collective development of the Southeast.
Earlier, leader of the Committee , Senator Orji Uzor Kalu told Gover Mbah that they were in Enugu for oversight function to SEDC’s office. He expressed joy with what they saw, especially for moving their office from Abuja to Enugu, thanking the Governor for providing an office for the commission. He said they no longer had issues with the SEDC, saying that a South East Development Commission should be in the South East zone.
He assured the Senate’s support to the commission to achieve success.
