Senators from Nigeria’s South-east geopolitical zone protested on the Senate floor over the alleged systematic exclusion of the region from federal infrastructure and development projects, particularly the N38 billion irrigation development initiative under the N3.2 trillion Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund in the 2025 Appropriation Act. The motion, spearheaded by Senator Kenneth Eze (Ebonyi Central), highlighted the omission of the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority—the sole federal irrigation authority serving the South-east—from the project’s implementation plan.
Rising under parliamentary orders, Eze cited constitutional provisions mandating equitable resource distribution and national development, including Sections 14(3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution. He argued that the exclusion contradicted President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, which prioritizes inclusivity. “The South-east, with its vast arable land and contributions to national agriculture, deserves fair access to this fund,” Eze stated, noting the region’s role in producing 30% of Nigeria’s yam and 15% of its cassava. He listed critical regional projects like the Auzara and Okaku agribusiness clusters and the Ivo Dam Irrigation Project as beneficiaries if included.
Supporting the motion, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) emphasized the need to incorporate specific dam projects in Abia State, such as Uzoakoli and Igbere, to bolster agricultural productivity. Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West) condemned the recurring marginalization, calling it an “expensive omission” that undermines the region’s development.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin acknowledged the concerns but suggested the exclusion might be an administrative oversight, pledging the Senate’s commitment to ensuring equity. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele proposed temporarily stepping down the motion to allow leadership to engage the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation for clarification. The Senate subsequently resolved to interface with the executive, urging the inclusion of South-east irrigation projects in the 2025 budget’s discretionary allocations and mandating an ad-hoc committee to investigate the exclusion. The matter is expected to return to plenary after consultations with relevant ministries.
