The South East Development Commission (SEDC) is set to flag off its first agro-mechanisation project in Enugu State as part of a regional initiative targeting food security, job creation and agricultural development across the South-East.
The project, which is one of 15 agro-mechanisation initiatives planned across the region’s 15 senatorial zones, will be sited at Nomeh Unateze in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.
SEDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Okoye, disclosed this during a site inspection and community engagement at the proposed project location on Tuesday, saying the visit was part of preparations for the flag-off.
Okoye said the commission, established in 2024, devoted its first year to extensive studies of the South-East economy and the development of a comprehensive blueprint to guide its interventions across the region.
He said agro-mechanisation was a major component of the blueprint, with the programme designed to tackle food insecurity and unemployment while creating opportunities for increased agricultural productivity.
“So, what we are here for is one of our flagship initiatives, which is called the South East Agro Mechanisation Programme or the South East Agro Development Programme, where we are committing to develop up to 50,000 hectares of land and that will be used for mechanised farming across the region.
“Essentially we are here for a pre-assessment, pre-flag-off visit to see the area, understand the level of work that needs to be done and ensure that the contractors can start mobilising very quickly so that once we hit the site we start running.
“Because a big part of what we are looking at is how to address food insecurity and unemployment, ensuring that we are producing what we put on the table, we are starting with pilot programmes where we are taking 200 to 300 hectares of farmland across 15 senatorial zones and developing them to standard farms where you not only have cassava, maize, some of our staple crops, but also some cash crops. In some areas, there will be the centres for learning and centres for productivity.
“We will be doing a flag-off and the governor has agreed for next week. So, we just came to assess the area, meet with the community, once again, ensuring that all the plans are in place.
“And the second we put this investment here, at least N4bn or N5 billion of added investment will come in,” he stated.
Okoye said the initiative would create a platform for mechanised agriculture, skills development and increased food production across the region, with the pilot projects expected to provide a model for subsequent agricultural investments.
The SEDC boss also commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the commission, describing it as an answer to the South-East’s longstanding demand for an institution dedicated to mobilising resources and coordinating development in the region.
He urged residents of the region to reciprocate what he described as the President’s gestures by supporting continued development efforts beyond 2027.
Okoye further disclosed that the commission would soon establish an investment agency aimed at mobilising local and diaspora capital to accelerate economic development across the South-East.
Speaking at the community engagement, the Media Aide to the Enugu State Governor and community leader, Uche Anichukwu, described the agro-mechanisation project as one of the development opportunities coming to Enugu under the administrations of President Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah.
Anichukwu said the location had an added advantage because of road infrastructure linking the community to major markets.
He specifically cited the Nenwe-Nomeh-Mburubu-Nara road, with a spur to Oduma, which he said had provided multiple access routes to markets for the proposed agricultural investment.
Chairman of the Nomeh Unateze Town Union Caretaker Committee, Dr Chukwudi Anyianuka, expressed the community’s support for the project and commended President Tinubu and Governor Mbah for facilitating its location in Nomeh Unateze.
“We are very, very happy. We cannot wait to see it actualised and we promise that we are going to provide everything that is necessary to make sure that this is established to make sure that it.”
Anyianuka also commended the SEDC for adopting what he described as a methodical approach to regional development, particularly its decision to undertake studies before implementing major interventions.
“The Commission has taken a methodical approach to regional development. Rather than the pitfall of throwing money at development challenges, it undertook a study of the region and came up with a masterplan, which includes this initiative, to reinvent the South East post-civil war,” he added.
The interactive session was attended by members of the traditional council of Nomeh Unateze, community heads and other stakeholders.
