The member representing the South East on the Board of North East Development Commission, NEDC, Hon Sam Onuigbo, has said that southerners are benefitting from the Commission.
Onuigbo, who addressed journalists on Sunday, noted that apart from the people of the North East, Igbos living and doing business in parts of the North East are also reaping the gains of the establishment of the NEDC.
According to him, the NEDC was set up by the Federal Government to rehabilitate, resettle and reconstruct communities that were destroyed by insurgency, and address challenges such as the Lake Chad problem, care for Internally Displaced Persons, reduce illiteracy and promote the transformation of the region.
Onuigbo pointed out that many buildings and business outlets in the North East, including those owned by Igbos, were destroyed during the peak days of insurgency in the region.
He expressed joy that insecurity has been drastically reduced in the North East through initiatives introduced by the Federal Government, with support from international organisations.
According to him, the people of the South East, just like indigenes of their host communities, are now enjoying a better-secured environment in parts of North East.
“Our people who are living and doing business in the North East, their houses and businesses were destroyed alongside those of the indigenes. Every destruction in the North East affect the South East.
“We will contribute to the development of the North East. We have our people working and living in the North East,” he said.
