APC treating South-East unfairly, says Kwankwaso group

The South-East cannot continue to be treated as “an afterthought in the scheme of things,” the Kwankwaso National Network said as it accused Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress of neglecting the region.

KNN’s South-East coordinator, Dr Ukpai Iro Ukpai, made the accusation in a statement issued Friday in Umuahia. The group said the region had been left behind in critical areas of federal infrastructure and development, despite its contribution to commerce, trade, manufacturing and national growth.

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The South-East cannot continue to be treated as an afterthought in the scheme of things.

The group focused particularly on rail transport. Railway facilities and services that once connected parts of the South-East have remained inactive for years, it said, while other parts of Nigeria have received major railway investments. KNN said the lack of modern rail links had made it harder to move people and goods, increased pressure on congested highways and denied businesses the economic benefits of efficient rail transport.

Federal roads linking major commercial centres also remain a concern for residents, transporters and business operators, according to the statement. KNN called for functional rail connections between major cities and industrial hubs, better federal highways and stronger infrastructure to support trade and economic integration.

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It is difficult to understand why a region renowned for enterprise and commerce should continue to struggle without the level of modern transportation infrastructure required to unlock its full economic potential.

The group also criticized what it described as inadequate attention to seaports and other economic gateways in the zone. Better access, it argued, would help businesses and lower the cost of moving goods. “It is difficult to understand why a region renowned for enterprise and commerce should continue to struggle without the level of modern transportation infrastructure required to unlock its full economic potential.”

KNN said the South-East had not received fair treatment since the APC took power federally, creating a growing sense of exclusion among residents. “The people of the South-East are Nigerians with equal rights and responsibilities. They deserve equitable treatment, inclusion and a fair share of national development,” it said. The group urged political leaders from the zone to pursue concrete development gains rather than simply celebrate appointments and patronage.

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The people of the South-East are Nigerians with equal rights and responsibilities. They deserve equitable treatment, inclusion and a fair share of national development.