South East Constitutes Economic Team

The South East Governors’ Forum has constituted economic team that will be saddled with the responsibility of fashioning economic policies for the zone.

The team would be inaugurated at the next meeting of the Forum on June 5.

Each state submitted two names to make up our economic team, the Chairman of the forum, Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, told journalists on Enugu on Sunday.

The governor gave the names of members of the economic team as Dr Chukwuma Agu, Dr Eme Okoro, Mr Ifeatu Onejeme , Mr Mark Okoye and Prof. Benard Odo.

The others are Chief Dennis Ekuma-Nkama, Prof. Barth Nnaji, Prof Osita Ogbu, Mr Obinna Mbata, and Chief Iyke Njoku.

Umahi said that the power situation in the zone featured prominently in their meeting and described the situation in the zone as worrisome and wants urgent steps taken to remedy it.

He said that they were worried that the only independent power plant in state had not been injected into the system.

He said that the injection of power from Geometrix Power Plant in Aba in Abia state, would solve the power needs of the area.

The governor said the forum had taken necessary measures to ensure that the right things were done for entrepreneurs and investors in the area to get value for their businesses.

Umahi said they were not unmindful of the situation with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, adding that there would be an interface with the management to find solution to their challenges.

“We shall interact with the management of EEDC and find out ways to improve power generation in the zone.

“We thank our governors for the interest in our people. We are at work and assure you of our commitment which is divine,” he said.

Umahi said that the South-East economic agenda was on course and the railway, power, commerce and seaport development feature prominently.

“We have taken some steps which have been referred to our economic team to do preliminary studies and make presentation in our next meeting.

“We also had an interface with the Bank of Agriculture which is very important to the agricultural programme of the zone.’’

He noted that the Anchor Borrowers’ programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria is handled by the bank.

NAN