By Stanley Nwosu
The establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and the historic inauguration of its first board on 11th February 2025, mark significant milestones in Nigeria’s journey towards full implementation of the 3Rs; Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation policy—a vision first articulated by former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd). The goal has been pursued since the end of the Nigerian Civil War, yet previous administrations failed to create this essential intervention Commission to oversee the reconstruction and rehabilitation of critical infrastructure damaged by the war and tackle the broader developmental challenges facing the southeast region.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to fulfilling the Igbos’ aspirations by creating the SEDC positions him as a transformative leader in Nigerian history. His decision to approved the establishment of the Commission reflects a determined effort to tackle the southeast region’s persistent developmental hurdles, alongside similar initiatives for other geopolitical zones in the country.
The calibre of individuals appointed to lead the SEDC is commendable. Chairman Chief Emeka Nworgu and Managing Director/CEO Mr. Mark Okoye, along with board members bring a wealth of expertise and political acumen to the Commission, promising effective governance. Their proven track records as technocrats and professionals instil confidence in the SEDC’s potential to drive meaningful change in the region.
As a political economist and development expert, I recognize the critical role that regional economic integration plays in fostering sustainable national development. Also, working with Nigeria’s leading demographic data generating agency and having actively participated in gathering both statistical and geospatial data for the organization, I understand the necessity of accurate data for evidence-based planning and implementation.
The SEDC’s strategic roadmap outlines a comprehensive framework aimed at boosting the Southeast’s GDP from $40 billion to $200 billion by 2035. Achieving this ambitious goal hinges on the availability of reliable, verifiable and up-to-date data for development planning. Accurate data serves as the backbone of effective policymaking.
One of the primary reasons responsible for the ineffectiveness and failures of many intervention programmes in Nigeria is lack of credible data. This deficiency hampers the design, implementation and evaluation of these programmes. Flawed or outdated data makes it difficult for policymakers to identify and target vulnerable populations and areas in need of intervention, resulting in misallocation of resources to less needy areas while leaving critical sectors underfunded.
The National Population Commission (NPC) has developed a national geospatial repository database generated through the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) exercise carried out throughout the length and breadth of our country. The national Enumeration Area frame is useful for the conduct of census, surveys, socio-economic and demographic researches, as well as for guiding security coordination, intervention programmes and infrastructure allocation and location.
To maximize the SEDC’s impact, a partnership with the NPC is essential. Leveraging the NPC’s geospatial repository database, which includes geo-coordinates and attributes of all buildings, roads, water bodies and infrastructure in Nigeria, will facilitate targeted interventions and guide the implementation of the strategic roadmap for the Southeast’s development. The NPC’s geospatial datasets such as digital EA maps, INEC ward boundary map, mobile network map, Nigeria postcode system and post office mapping, boundary dispute map, rapid relief intervention map, infrastructure proximity and planning map, current security risk areas in Nigeria, a compendium of localities etc., can help identify priority areas for development in the region.
As Nigeria’s leading demographic and socio-economic data generating agency, the NPC possesses the most detailed and comprehensive population data, including age distribution, gender ratios, household sizes, and more. It has a proven track record in conducting censuses, large-scale specialised surveys and civil registration and vital statistics, including births, deaths and migration. The NPC also coordinates the implementation of population and development activities in Nigeria. Its geospatial mapping capabilities (GIS) enables the creation and visualization of population distribution and infrastructure, crucial for monitoring and evaluating development programmes.
Therefore, through strategic partnership, the NPC can develop specialized geospatial maps for the Southeast that highlight population density, households, buildings, infrastructure, hospitals/healthcare centres, schools, road networks, mining sites, tourism and hospitality places, farmland and forest areas, disaster prone areas (floods, erosion, earthquakes, droughts), crime spots and resource distribution to identify priority areas for intervention, ensuring that SEDC’s efforts are targeted and efficient. The data will provide SEDC with insights to know where to build new schools, hospitals, roads, site industries and markets, provide affordable housing units, allocate resources for disaster preparedness and address security challenges in the southeast region.
Recently, the NPC provided actionable data to guide Borno State government interventions during the floods in Maiduguri by superimposing the geospatial building dataset over flood zones and pinpointing the actual number of affected buildings and infrastructure with their precise geo-locations and attributes. The NPC’s ongoing collaborations with the Benue State Bureau of Statistics, the Nasarawa State Bureau of Statistics, the North East Development Commission and a few other organizations reflect its commitment to addressing local needs through tailored geospatial mapping.
By conducting household surveys and socio-economic assessments in the Southeast, the NPC can provide the SEDC with critical insights into living conditions, health, education, security and more in the region. Combining the detailed survey outcomes with geospatial data, the NPC can develop reliable and verifiable Social Register to improve social welfare and address poverty in the southeast region.
Additionally, the NPC can provide baseline data for monitoring and evaluating the impact of SEDC’ s projects and addressing climate-related challenges with demographic insight.
Moreover, the NPC’s recent inaugural North Central Regional Conference on Population Dynamics, Security, Climate Change, Out-of-School Children and Vulnerable Children (Almajiri, Children in Lumbering and Mining etc.), organised in collaboration with the Nasarawa State government showcases the potential for similar initiatives in the Southeast. Such forums can facilitate dialogue on pressing regional challenges, fostering collaborative solutions.
Consequently, the SEDC stands to benefit immensely from the NPC’s geospatial data and specialised surveys to assess the prevalence of out-of-school children and birth registration and immunization coverage rates in the Southeast.
In partnership with the NPC, the SEDC can enhance its capabilities in gathering accurate socio-economic data, leading to improved project planning and implementation. This collaboration promises more effective targeting of interventions, ultimately contributing to sustainable development and enhanced livelihoods in the Southeast.
As Nigeria prepares for its first biometric Population and Housing Census, which will not only update the existing geospatial data but also generate most current, verifiable and comprehensive data for evidence-based planning, the SEDC stands at a pivotal moment. By leveraging the NPC’s extensive demographic data, geospatial expertise, and analytical capabilities, the SEDC can significantly amplify the impact of its development initiatives.
Just as Mr. Mark Okoye, MD/CEO of SEDC, aptly noted in his inaugural speech, that the establishment of SEDC represents a unique opportunity to transform the Southeast into an economic powerhouse. The onus now lies with the SEDC to harness verifiable data for effective planning and sustainable development. The work begins now!
~©Stanley Onyeka Nwosu, Communication Strategist, Public Affairs Analyst, Political Economist, and Development Expert, currently serves as the NPC Website and Social Media Manager in Abuja. He can be reached at [email protected]
About Author
