“Dismantle roadblocks in Igboland” – Southeast leaders beg Tinubu

South-East leaders on Saturday appealed to President Bola Tinubu to order the dismantling of roadblocks and checkpoints in the region, arguing that they contribute to higher logistics costs and inflation.

They also urged the President to prioritize reviving the moribund Anambra Basin to unlock its abundant oil and gas reserves, which could significantly boost the nation’s economy.

The requests were made during a town hall meeting in Enugu as part of President Tinubu’s official visit to the state, where he commissioned various projects executed by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration.

Onyemuche Nnamani, a prominent voice at the meeting, criticized the negative economic and security impacts of roadblocks, asserting that Enugu State’s modern security infrastructure makes such measures unnecessary.

According to him, the state’s investment in a command and control centre, CCTV systems, and patrol car cameras as alternatives to traditional security practices.

“These roadblocks inflate logistics costs, discourage investment, and even expose security personnel to unnecessary risks,” Nnamani said.

He urged the federal government to de-emphasize the use of checkpoints to support economic growth and improve perceptions of safety in the region.

Chris Ngu, another stakeholder, emphasized the economic potential of the Anambra Basin, which he described as a largely untapped resource with an estimated one billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas reserves.

“The future is gas, and developing the Anambra Basin could catalyze industrial growth and power generation, benefiting not just the Southeast but the entire nation,” Ngu stated, calling for the President’s intervention to activate exploration and development in the basin.

Former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, added to the discussion by advocating for the revival of the rail system in Enugu and neighbouring states, emphasizing its importance for regional development and connectivity.

President Tinubu, in response, pledged to consider the demands and highlighted his administration’s commitment to fostering development across all regions of Nigeria.