Mbah Urges SEDC to Prioritise South East Rail Network, Gas Pipeline

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has called on the South East Development Commission (SEDC) to prioritize a regional railway network and a high-pressure gas pipeline, arguing that the projects could improve connectivity, attract industrial investment and strengthen economic cooperation across the five South East states. He has also urged the National Assembly to ensure adequate funding for the commission to deliver on its development mandate.

Mbah made the appeal on Monday, October 12, 2026, when he received a delegation from the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission at the Government House in Enugu. The delegation was led by committee chairman Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and included SEDC Managing Director Mark Okoye as part of an oversight visit to assess the commission’s projects and programmes.

The governor said a high-pressure gas pipeline connecting major cities across the region could give manufacturers more reliable access to energy, helping to support industrial expansion and make the South East more attractive to businesses. He argued that the region should benefit more directly from gas resources produced in the wider southern part of Nigeria.

He also proposed an inter-state railway system linking major cities across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states. Beyond improving passenger movement, the proposed network could make it easier to transport goods, connect commercial centres and reduce some of the pressure on the region’s road infrastructure.

Mbah called for the five state governments to work towards a common railway plan, with the SEDC serving as a coordinating platform. His proposal places regional collaboration at the centre of the initiative, recognizing that a railway system spanning several states would require agreement on routes, financing, technical standards and long-term management.

The governor further urged lawmakers to support adequate funding for the commission, describing it as a vehicle for unlocking the South East’s economic potential. He also called for financing opportunities for young entrepreneurs whose businesses have reached the minimum viable product stage, enabling them to expand beyond early development and create jobs.

As part of the commission’s development agenda, Mbah pointed to a 200-hectare integrated agricultural development programme at Nomeh Unateze in Enugu State. He said his administration would support the initiative by providing an enabling environment for its implementation. The agricultural project, alongside proposed support for technology-driven businesses, reflects a broader approach that combines large infrastructure investments with efforts to strengthen local enterprise.

Kalu, meanwhile, stressed that the commission must demonstrate tangible results beyond establishing its headquarters in Enugu. He urged the SEDC to reach communities across the region and ensure that its presence translates into practical development benefits. He also indicated that the Senate committee would return in December to assess further progress.

Established by law in July 2024, the SEDC is mandated to support sustainable development across the five South East states, including infrastructure, transportation, industrialization and employment. Its statutory responsibilities provide a basis for considering projects such as the proposed railway and gas pipeline, although Mbah’s latest appeal should not be mistaken for confirmation that construction has been approved, funded or scheduled.

The proposals now raise a central question for the commission and its political sponsors: how quickly can regional ambitions be converted into funded, coordinated projects with measurable benefits? A functioning rail network and dependable industrial gas supply could help businesses move goods, reduce operating constraints and attract investment. But their impact will depend on credible feasibility studies, transparent financing, cooperation among the five states and sustained implementation. For the South East, the real test of the SEDC will be whether its mandate produces infrastructure and economic opportunities that residents and businesses can see and use.