President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated the determination of the government to tackle the problem of insecurity in the country.
The President was responding to concerns of leaders from the South East, who visited the State House on Monday.
In their letter of demands, read to Mr. Jonathan by the Chairman of South-East Governors Forum and Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, the leaders said: “We are heartened that Your Excellency has personally acknowledged the special menace of insecurity in the Southeast zone with embarrassing manifestations in kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.
Responding to the issue, the President said, “We are very concerned about the issue of security, and with the various options available to us, we are gradually getting on top of the situation.”
Other issues
Another issue brought to the attention of the President by the group was the appointment of South-Easterners into federal establishments, claiming the practice has been declining.
“Some examples include the headship of Independent National Electoral Commission, Bureau of Public Enterprises, National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Immigration Service, among others”.
The leaders further stated that “the South-East is not proportionately represented at the Supreme Court in spite of large number of qualified legal luminaries in the South-East or even at the Appeal Courts”, and urged the president to correct the disparities.
The President promised the delegation that all their concerns would receive due attention from the appropriate ministries and departments of government, .
Besides asking for an additional state for the South-East zone, the delegation pleaded for the attention of the federal government to ecological problems in the zone; the construction of the second Niger Bridge and rehabilitation of federal roads in the South-East; upgrading of the Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu to international status and the reactivation of the Enugu coal mines.
Mr. Jonathan told the South East leaders that he has directed the Ministry of Environment to provide funds in the next Federal Government budget for the fight against erosion in the country, because the Ecological Funds were inadequate. He added that Vice President Namadi Sambo would take a critical look at the various Ecological Fund projects to ensure proper execution and timely completion.
The President said the construction of the second Niger Bridge would be funded by the government because of its critical role as a link between the South East and other parts of country, and that efforts at the rehabilitation of various road projects would continue.