By 
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called on the people of South-East to align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stating that President Tinubu has achieved much in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and education.
Kalu made the call during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP) at Ukwa West local government of Abia State which also marked the commencement of the exercise across the 17 Local Government Areas of the State.
Addressing the gathering, Kalu highlighted the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), the re-commencement of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail corridor, and the construction of gas pipelines across the region as worthy feats.
According to him, the compressed natural gas initiative is expected to save ₦2 trillion monthly in fuel imports while also commending the distribution of fertilizer and mechanized equipment to farmers.
Kalu stressed the need for the South-East to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing his commitment to the region’s development.Kalu also announced plans to launch Renewed Hope Councils in every local government area, linked to the South East Development Commission, to drive grassroots implementation of federal policies and projects.
In his words, “Let me now highlight some of the concrete steps this administration has taken that speak to the renewed commitment to the South-East and its people.
“Regional Growth Drive & Infrastructure South East Development Commission (SEDC) was fully established (July 2024) with a governing board and management team. SEDC will drive a $1 billion regional asset base under the “Triple-R” agenda.
“The Lekki-Aba–Onitsha–Maiduguri Road Corridor under federal focus are for logistics and commerce.
On agriculture and food security, Kalu said that the federal has allocated land in Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu for the 10 million hectare cultivation target under the national food-security plan, adding that there are fertilisers and equipment partnerships from the U.S, Belarus, Brazil to support cassava, rice, and palm oil value chains in the zone.
The Deputy Speaker also stated that education and human capital ₦45.6 billion student-loan disbursement were already reaching South East students with additional ₦50 billion to be released from recovered funds.
“Other notable achievements of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the South East according to Kalu include: the establishment of the South East Development Commission with a $1 billion regional asset base, the Eastern Rail Line connecting Aba, Onitsha, Enugu, and Nsukka, and the Anambra Gas Basin development.
“Additionally, the Federal Government has allocated land in Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu for large-scale farming and provided ₦45.6 billion in student loans to South East students.
Kalu lauded Tinubu’s efforts, maintaining that the President has demonstrated a clear vision for the country’s growth and development just as he urged the people of the South-East to seize the opportunities presented by the Renewed Hope Agenda and work together to build a brighter future for the region and the country.
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