Senators Decry ‘Total Exclusion’ of Southeast from N380bn Agric Fund

Senators from the Southeast have expressed deep dissatisfaction over the exclusion of the region from the Federal Government’s N380 billion earmarked for irrigation development under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund in the 2025 budget. The concern was raised during Thursday’s plenary session in a motion presented by Senator Kenneth Eze, who represents Ebonyi Central.

Senator Eze disclosed that the 2025 Appropriations Act allocated a total of N3.2 trillion under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, with N380 billion specifically designated for irrigation projects to be executed by the country’s River Basin Development Authorities. According to him, while the initiative is meant to be nationwide, implementation plans excluded the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority — the only one serving the entire Southeast geopolitical zone.

Eze presented figures showing allocations made to other regions: Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority (South South/South West) received N42.2 billion; Chad Basin (North East) got N40 billion; Hadejia Jama’are (North West/North East) N66.96 billion; Ogun-Osun (South West) N45.4 billion; Sokoto Rima (North West) N43 billion; Upper Benue (North East) N40 billion; and Upper Niger (North Central/North West) N24 billion.

Highlighting the role of the Appropriations Act as a vital tool for national development and equitable distribution of resources, Eze lamented that the total omission of the Southeast from these projects could hinder the region’s agricultural growth and economic potential. He listed several critical irrigation projects in the region that remain unfunded, including the Ozara Okangwu Agri-Business Cluster in Ebonyi, the Ivo Dam project spanning Enugu and Ebonyi, the Item Amegu Rice Farm Dam in Ebonyi, the Amauzari Earth Dam in Imo, and the Ifite Ogwari/Omor Dam in Anambra.

Seconding the motion, Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu West emphasized the gravity of the exclusion, calling it a costly oversight and warning that the Southeast must not continue to face such marginalization in federal allocations.