Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
In a paradigm shift for national reconciliation and regional development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has broken a 54-year post-civil war jinx by approving the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC). This long-anticipated move signals a new era of federal recognition, economic regeneration, and infrastructural recovery for a region historically scarred by the Nigerian Civil War.
Truth Live News gathered that the announcement was confirmed by the Managing Director of the Commission, Mark Okoye, who disclosed on Monday that President Tinubu had been formally briefed on the commission’s progress and expressed “strong satisfaction” with the contents of its 100-day report. The SEDC, according to Okoye, has articulated a bold strategy to catalyze a $200 billion regional economy by the year 2035.
The Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), also known as the Biafran War, left the South East region devastated, with extensive loss of lives, destruction of infrastructure, and economic isolation. Despite the Federal Government’s post-war “No Victor, No Vanquished” rhetoric, reconstruction and reconciliation efforts in the region remained painfully slow.
Calls for a dedicated commission akin to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) had echoed for decades. Bills for the creation of the SEDC had repeatedly been introduced in the National Assembly since the early 2000s but failed to secure presidential assent — until now.
“This moment is deeply significant for students of history,” said Okoye. “Since the end of the war in 1970, no Nigerian President—military or civilian—granted the South East’s longstanding request for a development commission focused on reconstruction and rehabilitation. Mr. President broke that 54-year jinx. Thank you, Boss.”
The SEDC’s 100-day report outlines a robust framework anchored on public-private partnerships and a “bottom-up” community engagement model. Among the landmark initiatives are:
South East Investment Company (SEIC): Set to be capitalized with a $1 billion asset base to fund strategic infrastructure and industrialization projects.
South East Venture Capital Fund: A $50 million facility aimed at stimulating startups, MSMEs, and tech-driven innovations across the region.
Massive Stakeholder Engagement: Over 3,500 volunteers have signed up to support the SEDC, while consultations have been held with all five South East governors, over 30 federal MDAs, key development finance institutions, private sector players, and academic institutions.
The Commission is also exploring partnerships with international development agencies and diaspora communities to attract sustainable funding and technical expertise.
The move aligns with President Tinubu’s broader Renewed Hope Agenda, which places strong emphasis on inclusive development and bridging historical gaps in national integration. According to inside sources, the President has instructed the SEDC to “fast-track execution and deliver impact,” signalling his intent to see tangible results on ground within the shortest possible time.
Tinubu’s support for the SEDC echoes his administration’s recent push for equitable development, including the reactivation of rail corridors in the East, approval of critical infrastructure projects in the South East, and inclusion of South Easterners in key federal appointments.
The approval of the SEDC has ignited a wave of optimism across the region, with civil society leaders, traditional rulers, and youth groups describing the move as a “generational milestone.” Notably, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, has commended the initiative as “a sign that the nation is finally acknowledging the pains of its past and forging a path toward shared prosperity.”
Critics, however, have warned that good intentions must be matched by transparent implementation, learning from the missteps of agencies like the NDDC, which have often been marred by corruption and political interference.
With presidential backing secured, the SEDC is expected to focus its next phase on full-scale program implementation, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, digital economy, infrastructure, education, and healthcare. A regional economic blueprint is also in development, positioning the South East to become a manufacturing and innovation hub not just for Nigeria, but for West Africa at large.
As the nation marks this historic turn, many observers see President Tinubu’s bold move not only as a fulfilment of a decades-long demand but as a pivot point in Nigeria’s quest for unity, equity, and enduring peace.