Senators representing Nigeria’s Southeast geopolitical zone have voiced strong condemnation over the region’s complete exclusion from the Federal Government’s N380 billion intervention under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund within the 2025 budget.
The concerns were raised during Thursday’s plenary session through a motion moved by Senator Kenneth Eze, representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial zone. Senator Eze highlighted that out of the N3.2 trillion allocated to the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, N380 billion was specifically earmarked for Irrigation Development Projects to be implemented via various River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs), a strategy aimed at boosting agricultural production, ensuring food security, and creating jobs nationwide.
However, Senator Eze critically observed that despite the national intention of the project, the actual implementation plan completely bypassed the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority, which is the sole RBDA serving the entire Southeast geopolitical zone.
Providing a detailed breakdown of allocations to other regions, Senator Eze revealed significant disparities:
Benin, Owena RBDA (South-South/South-West): N42.2 billion
Chad Basin RBDA (North-East): N40 billion
Hadejia Jama�are RBDA (North-West/North-East): N66.96 billion
Ogun Osun RBDA (South-West): N45.4 billion
Sokoto Rima RBDA (North-West): N43 billion
Upper Benue RBDA (North-East): N40 billion
Upper Niger RBDA (North-Central/North-West): N24 billion
Senator Eze underscored that the National Appropriations Act serves as the most crucial policy and legal instrument for national development, ensuring equitable resource distribution and socio-economic transformation. He expressed deep concern over the total exclusion of the Southeast and its sole RBDA from this vital national development intervention.
He argued that this exclusion is not only unjustifiable but also directly contradicts the principles of equity, justice, and balanced development that form the cornerstone of President Bola Tinubu�s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The Senator further noted that the Southeast zone is rich in arable and fertile lands across Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia, and Anambra States, having historically contributed significantly to Nigeria�s agricultural sector with crops such as oil palm, cassava, yam, rice, and vegetables. He cited a recent open data source report indicating that the Southeast accounts for over 30% of national yam production and over 15% of Nigeria�s cassava, while remaining a major hub for rice farming through various schemes.
Senator Eze highlighted numerous ongoing and proposed irrigation projects and dams across the region that would readily benefit from the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Funds, including the Ozara Okangwu Agri-Business Cluster, the Ivo Dam Irrigation Project, Item Amegu Rice Farm Dam, Amauzari Earth Dam, and Ifite Ogwari/Omor Dam.
He voiced worry that the exclusion of these nationally important projects and other critical interventions not only jeopardizes the region�s agricultural potential but also undermines the current administration�s broader economic rejuvenation efforts. Furthermore, he warned that it could deepen the perennial perceptions of marginalization and inequity in federal projects and resource distribution.
Citing the constitutional mandate of the National Assembly to ensure equity, justice, and balanced development through legislation, including the Appropriations Act, Senator Eze urged the Senate to press the Federal Government to take immediate remedial actions to correct this glaring omission.
Seconding the motion, Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West, described the omission as “a very expensive one,” adding that the Southeast cannot continually be treated in such a manner. He pointed out that the Ivo Dam, one of the omitted projects, last received funding about 12 years ago with only N5 billion spent, and has remained abandoned since.
“I have written three letters to the Ministry of Water Resources. We have done everything possible to see if they can bring up Ivo Dam,” Senator Ngwu stated. “But a zone is allocated N66 billion, and the entire South-East has zero. What kind of omission is that, Mr President? We should be treated better than this.”
