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The Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF), a pan-Igbo pressure group, has tasked South-East governors on concerted and collective action in creating enabling environment to attract local and foreign investors to the zone.
The President of NUF, Chief Augustine Chukwudum, said in Enugu that governors of the zone both past and present had done little to develop the zone in spite of all resources it is endowed with, both human and natural.
According to him, whenever they are confronted with the issue of collective development of the business and investor environment of the zone, they start playing politics or blame game.
He said it was regrettable that serious and monumental investments had eluded the region for over 24 years of democratic experience.
“NUF recently discovered that South-East loses over $20 billion yearly due to bad governance and neglect of endowed opportunity in agriculture, extractive industry and tourism.
“It is shameful that our governors travel abroad and see how developed states and county areas within Europe, America and Asia are using gains made by utilising their human and natural endowments.”
The NUF boss also urged residents of the zone to start with “think home investment philosophy” like the Nnewi people, who developed their town by bringing their investments home.
“NUF is challenging governors of Abia, Imo and Anambra states to bring investors that will help build refinery that can refine a minimum of 100,000 barrels of crude oil daily since these three states have crude oil in commercial quantity.
“We advise the governors to give attention to revival of palm tree plantations in the zone by planting 10 million improved and climatic adaptable palm trees yearly.
“Malyasia, as a country, came to the South-East in the early 50s during the palm oil business boom, took palm nut and went to their country and planted it. Today, Malaysia earns more than $10 billion yearly from palm oil; that is why South-East governors must wake up.
“South-East governors must pay attention to the area of security by equipping community vigilante groups in various communities so that investors will have confidence in investing in the zone,” he added.
