The South-East will benefit more from Road and Coastal Rail Projects - President Buhari

The South East region will benefit more from roads and coastal rail projects, which are of critical importance to the economy, President Buhari on Friday assured stakeholders from the region.

Speaking at an audience with leaders from the region led by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, the President declared that the second Niger Bridge, the East-West Road and the Coastal rail project, are receiving utmost attention from his administration.

President Buhari said that counterpart funding from the Chinese government would substantially fund these projects, which when completed will improve the welfare, well-being and economy of the people in the region.

I know the Chinese are very competent in handling such projects and we will ensure that we get the money for the projects to take off. I thank you for articulating your demands and i want to assure that we are doing our best for the country. If we can stop people from stealing, then there will be more resources to put into projects that will create employment for Nigerians, the President said.

The President promised the leaders, which includes but are not limited to the governors and ministers from the region, the president of Ohaneze, Chief Nnia Nwodo and representatives from the National Assembly, that he will visit states in the region soon.

I gave South-East four substantive ministers in the ministries for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment, Science and Technology and Labour. Seven states in the North got Ministers of State and of two Ministries headed by your sons, i cannot take decision on foreign policy and investments without their input, he said while responding to allegations of under-representation of Igbos in his government.

I want to assure you that i came into government with a clear conscience and i will also leave with a clear conscience, he said.