Abuja, Nigeria — Vice-President Kashim Shettima has stated that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is driving economic growth and enhancing security in Nigeria’s South-East region through significant investments in infrastructure, agriculture, and human capital development. Speaking on Monday at an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Shettima highlighted federal interventions aimed at improving regional connectivity, strengthening food security, and addressing longstanding development challenges.
The Vice-President emphasized that the government’s commitment to Ebonyi State is demonstrated through major infrastructure projects and federal appointments designed to improve citizen welfare. He listed the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Kogi–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway as a key project expected to strengthen trade and economic integration between the South-East, North-Central, and other parts of the country. Other cited projects include the Ndibe Bridge connecting Ebonyi with Cross River State, the ongoing Enugu–Abakaliki–Ogoja Expressway, and the Okposi–Ohaozara–Ukawu–Cross River road, all of which are intended to ease the movement of goods and reduce transportation challenges for local businesses.
“We have never turned our backs on you. We have answered your support with projects and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has honoured Ebonyi through distinguished appointments and projects across the state,” Shettima said.
In the agricultural sector, Shettima described Ebonyi as a critical contributor to national food security, particularly in rice and cassava production. He noted that the Federal Government is supporting local farmers through fertilizer distribution, interest-free FarmerMoni assistance, and investments in rural roads to improve market access and reduce post-harvest losses. Additionally, he disclosed that thousands of beneficiaries in the state have received grants under the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme, while federal initiatives are creating digital skills and employment opportunities for young people.
Addressing security concerns, Shettima asserted that the administration has intensified efforts to restore stability in the South-East, identifying the commencement of operations at the Nigerian Army Recruits Training Depot in Amasiri–Edda as a key intervention. He also pointed to the establishment of the South-East Development Commission, the launch of the South-East Vision 2050, and the approval of the South East Investment Company as institutional measures aimed at accelerating regional development and attracting investment.
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru reaffirmed the state’s support for President Tinubu, praising the administration’s economic reforms and special road interventions. While commending the improved road conditions, Governor Nwifuru appealed to the Federal Government to provide a 330kV electricity transmission line to support industrial development and improve power supply. He assured the President that Ebonyi would deliver 80 per cent of its votes to the APC in the 2027 presidential election. Former APC National Chairman Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Minister of Works Senator David Umahi also spoke at the rally, urging residents to support the administration’s re-election bid.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
