It was with much euphoria that the great citizens of the South-East region of Nigeria welcomed the recent creation of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Despite its rich history and significant contributions to national development, the South East region has long been beleaguered with some of the most critical, diverse and persistent socioeconomic and infrastructural challenges. According to the World Bank, Nigeria needs an annual investment of between $100 billion to $150 billion to bridge its infrastructure gap nationwide, with the South East alone requiring roughly $10 billion annually to address its most pressing needs. This highlights the magnitude of the task ahead of the SEDC.

The SEDC aims to promote dynamic infrastructural development and sustainable economic growth in the South East region. It is well intended to address the appalling legacies of the Nigerian Civil War, while tackling emerging challenges and laying the roadmap for a more secure and prosperous future for the South East. By adopting innovative and market-based approaches, the Commission can harness the knowledge of the private sector, the experience of public institutions, and the networks of civil society to create lasting solutions to the perennial challenges plaguing the region.

Therefore, President Tinubu’s signing of the SEDC Bill was an audacious step toward giving the South-East the requisite tools to chart its own course, and fulfill its own destiny. Mr. President’s action reflects his hallmark commitment to national cohesion and inclusivity. By empowering regions to take charge of their development in congruence with the original idea of the founding fathers of the nation, the President has boldly demonstrated his administration’s dedication to promoting equitable growth, justice and peace across Nigeria.

However, the establishment of the SEDC should transcend mere symbolism. For the Commission to achieve its full potential, it must learn from the pitfalls of similar commissions, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); which despite the noble intentions behind its establishment, is finding it hard to live up to public expectation due to crass inefficiency and brazen corruption. The SEDC must avoid the quagmires that have befallen other regional development commissions by strictly adhering to principles of transparency, accountability, and long-term strategic planning.

As a patriotic Nigerian and a proud citizen of the South East region, it is my utmost desire for the SEDC to not only live up to, but surpass its mandate. Therefore, I am impelled to offer my humble suggestions on how the Commission can achieve the herculean task ahead of it. This article highlights effective strategies for the success of the SEDC, while learning from the successes and failures of similar commissions around the world.

Strategies for SEDC’s Success
To maximize its effectiveness and achieve its set objectives, the SEDC must adopt several critical strategies, including the following:

1. Develop a Comprehensive Regional Development Plan: For the Commission to function efficiently, it must have a clear and well-defined roadmap. This should be based on thorough consultations with local stakeholders, the civil society, and international development agencies. A successful example can be drawn from the East African Community’s (EAC) regional infrastructure development plan, which prioritizes interconnected infrastructure projects for sustainable regional integration.
2. Leverage Diaspora and Private Sector Investment: The South-East boasts a vibrant diaspora that has demonstrated a keen interest in contributing to the region’s development. The SEDC can emulate the success of the Israel Bonds initiative, which tapped into its diaspora to raise billions in investment for national projects. By creating a South-East Development Fund, the commission can attract significant investments from its diaspora and private sector investors. The Israel Bonds, initially subscribed to by the American Jewish Community seeking to support the growth of their new country, is currently being invested in by both public and private sector interests, with worldwide sales currently in excess of $48 billion.
3. Focus on Critical Infrastructure: Infrastructure remains one of the greatest challenges in the South-East. The region’s roads, power supply, and transportation systems require urgent intervention. The SEDC should prioritize projects that have an immediate impact on trade and commerce. While considerations must be made for intermodal transport system for the region, an interstate railway system, similar to the one that drives the Gautrain in South Africa, would greatly enhance connectivity and economic opportunities across the region.
4. Promote Industrialization and SME Development: The entrepreneurial spirit of the South-East is clearly unmatched. The SEDC should create special industrial zones and SME clusters that provide necessary infrastructure, access to financing, and skills training. This will help boost manufacturing and job creation. Countries like Malaysia have successfully implemented similar initiatives, resulting in robust industrial growth.
5. Engage in Environmental Rehabilitation: The South-East suffers from significant environmental degradation, exacerbated by erosion and the lingering effects of the Civil War. The SEDC must address ecological problems through large-scale afforestation projects and the construction of drainage systems. Rwanda’s environmental rehabilitation program, which reversed several years of significant ecological damage, could serve as a model.
6. Strengthen Accountability and Transparency: One of the lessons from the NDDC is that without proper oversight, development commissions can become mired in corruption and inefficiency. The SEDC must adopt a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure accountability. Introducing a public dashboard, where project timelines, budgets, and outcomes are made accessible to the public, would certainly ensure transparency and shore up public trust.
7. Foster Strong Government Partnerships: The SEDC should work closely with state governments, federal institutions, and international development partners to achieve synergy. Countries like Kenya have demonstrated how effective partnerships between regional development commissions and government agencies can significantly improve service delivery and project completion rates.

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Past Commissions

The NDDC offers important practical lessons to the incoming Board, Management and staff of the SEDC. Projects under the NDDC were frequently abandoned, plagued by poor management and corruption. To avoid these mistakes, the SEDC must be proactive in its project selection and execution, ensuring that only priority projects are undertaken and that they are completed within agreed timelines and budgets.

By establishing clear metrics for success and regularly auditing its activities, the SEDC can maintain focus on its mission to improve the South-East’s infrastructure and economy. It is also crucial that local communities are involved in the decision-making processes. The success of the Amhara Development Association (ADA) in Ethiopia, which focused on inclusive community development, demonstrates the importance of stakeholder engagement. Even as an NGO, was able to build and hand over over 145 schools and 84 health institutions, all fully equipped, to communities in the Amhara Region.

The last lines…
Now that the South-East has finally secured the long-awaited SEDC after close to a decade of agitation, it falls on the region to ensure that the commission achieves its mandate. As the proverb goes, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” The SEDC represents the first step in a long journey toward sustainable development and prosperity for the South-East. I humbly urge President Tinubu to take his commitment to the development of the South-East a notch further in the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer, the Directors and other key personnel of the SEDC. It is crucial for the President to reenact his legendary prowess at fixing round pegs in round holes, in the constitution of the SEDC leadership. And by ensuring adequate budgetary allocation to the SEDC, President Tinubu will etch his name in gold in the annals of the South-East region.

In any case, it is up to all stakeholders—governments, civil society, and especially Ndigbo worldwide, who are the core beneficiaries of the SEDC,—to ensure that this historic journey leads to the desired destination.

Pharm. Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu Klinsmann, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), writes from Dunukofia LGA of Anambra State.