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Kenneth Udeh, Enugu
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), has expressed satisfaction with progress on the Commission’s headquarters in Enugu State, insisting that the agency must operate from the South-East to effectively deliver on its mandate.
Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, spoke on Monday while leading members of the Senate Committee on an oversight visit to inspect the ongoing headquarters project and assess the Commission’s operations.
The former Abia State governor said the Committee had observed significant improvements compared with its earlier engagements with the Commission, urging the management to sustain the momentum and extend its activities to communities across the region.
“Well, so far, we are making very good progress, unlike when we started. I’m sure you, both me and my colleagues, are seeing very serious progress. I hope that the Commission, especially the management team, sustains this progress.
“We will be here in December to see the progress so far. We are happy now that something is going on. We also want them to go to the grassroots to show the South Eastern people that they are on the ground,” Kalu said.
The lawmakers inspected two facilities: the office currently occupied by the Commission and another building provided by the Enugu State Government, which is being completed for its use.
Kalu described the developments as encouraging, noting that the Committee’s earlier concerns over the Commission’s decision to operate from Abuja rather than the South-East had been addressed.
“The only problem that I said before, and I repeat, is that they cannot operate from Abuja. They must operate from where they are set up. This is where they are located,” he stated.
He added that the Commission’s presence in Enugu was a positive step towards ensuring that it remained connected to the people it was established to serve.
“Our quarrel before was about being in Abuja and not being in Enugu. So that quarrel is over now,” he said.
While acknowledging that the SEDC was still a relatively young institution, Kalu stressed the need for its management to translate its mandate into tangible development across the South-East, particularly at the grassroots.
The Senate Committee is expected to return to Enugu in December for another assessment of the headquarters project and the Commission’s overall operations.
Senate Press Corps to honour Kalu for impactful representation
Meanwhile, the Senate Press Corps is set to honour Kalu with its Highly Impactful Representation Award (HIRA) in recognition of his legislative interventions, effective representation and delivery of constituency projects across Abia North Senatorial District.
The award follows an assessment of his constituency projects across the five local government areas in Abia North, with the Press Corps citing tangible development outcomes and the practical delivery of projects as key reasons for the recognition.
Kalu had previously received the Best Constituency Projects Execution Award from the Senate Press Corps in December 2024.
According to the Press Corps, the forthcoming honour recognises the senator’s continued commitment to impactful representation and development-oriented legislative service.
The award presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at Kalu’s office.
The recognition further highlights the Senate Committee chairman’s legislative and constituency engagements, as he continues to advocate for the effective operation of the South East Development Commission and the delivery of development projects to communities across the South-East.
