Southeast leaders urge Tinubu to dismantle roadblocks, revive Anambra basin

Leaders from the Southeast have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to order the dismantling of roadblocks and checkpoints in the region, arguing that these measures are exacerbating logistics costs and contributing to inflation.

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

Onyemuche Nnamani, a key voice at the meeting, criticised the economic and security impacts of the roadblocks, stressing that Enugu’s modern security infrastructure renders them unnecessary.

He pointed to the state’s investments in a command and control centre, CCTV systems, and patrol car cameras as more effective alternatives to traditional road checkpoints.

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

He called on the federal government to shift away from checkpoint-centric security practices to support economic growth and improve perceptions of safety in the region.

Chris Ngu, another leader at the meeting, drew attention to the untapped potential of the Anambra Basin, which is believed to contain one billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas.

He noted the basin’s potential to drive industrial growth and power generation, not only benefiting the Southeast but the entire nation.

“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 said, urging President Tinubu’s intervention to unlock the region’s vast oil and gas reserves.

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

In response, President Tinubu pledged to consider the requests, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to fostering development across all regions of Nigeria.