The Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has challenged the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and state governors-elect in the Southeast to transform the region into the “Dubai” of West Africa.
Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Ndigbo Secretary-General, while making the call in response to a proposed move by Southwest states to launch a regional railway line and electricity projects, said that Tinubu’s administration and those of the incoming governors should establish rail lines across Owerri, Onitsha, Awka and Abakaliki.
Speaking with newsmen, Isiguzoro said: “Ohanaeze is calling on the new governors from the Southeast and that of Imo and Anambra to take drastic measures to ensure that rail line passes through Owerri, Onitsha, Awka, and Abakaliki.
“Ohanaeze is taking a lead role in ensuring that there is a rail connection from the commercial nerve centre of the Southeast, Aba, to Owerri to Onitsha where there is a dry seaport.
“But there is no connection between Enugu to Abakaliki. We are challenging the new governors to ensure that by January 2024 we must have achieved 80 per cent of these regional railway lines and electricity.”
However, Isiguzoro congratulated the Abia State Governor for building geometric power plant in Aba through Professor Nnagi which has been providing electricity for the SMEs and lighting up Aba and its environs, while also commended the Ebonyi State governor for the International Airport that would create employment and business opportunities for the people of the state.
He added the Igbo socio-cultural are looking at these industrial revolutions that, if properly managed by the incoming administration of Southeast governors, like the regional railway and electricity designed by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, will transform the Southeast into Dubai and the centre of attraction of West Africa.