Human rights activist and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has criticised governors in Nigeria’s South-East, accusing them of neglecting their primary responsibilities while pursuing unviable infrastructure projects.
In a post on his official X account, Odinkalu said the governors had prioritised building airports and engaging in real estate projects instead of focusing on the welfare and security of residents.
He argued that the region’s core governance responsibilities, particularly the protection of lives and property, were being shifted to the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
According to Odinkalu, the decision to invest in airports that he described as commercially unviable came at the expense of addressing critical infrastructure and security challenges facing the region.
His comments come amid growing public concern over insecurity and the state of basic infrastructure in the South-East, with renewed debate over the priorities of state governments in the region.
