NIGERIA’s federal government remains fully committed to maintaining peace and security in the country, and would do everything possible to ensure that
President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure peace and security in the country.
The president made the pledge in Enugu during an interactive session with stakeholders from the South East, mainly Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.
Jonathan said his administration would do everything possible to ensure that peace reigned in the country.
According to him, government will enforce law and order in any part of the country where there is crisis.
“What we request from all Nigerians is peace. The government will make sure that there is peace in the country,’’ he said.
The president assured the people of the zone that government was committed toward the development of the zone.
The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the Federal Government was committed to providing adequate funds for the development of key projects in the South East zone.
The minister announced that government had allocated N68 million to develop infrastructure in the zone.
Okonjo-Iweala said the fund covered road projects and renovation of other infrastructure in the zone.
She said that the government had secured zero interest credit of N30 billion from the World Bank for the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge at Onitsha.
She added that government had also signed a N60 billion credit for comprehensive solution to erosion problems in the zone.
The minister said government would create jobs for youths through the SURE-P programme.
The Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Anambra Governor, Mr Peter Obi, enumerated some critical projects in the zone that required urgent attention.
They include the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge, federal roads and ecological problems that posed serious threat to the people of the zone.
In their separate remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha and former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme, pledged their support to the zone.
Ekwueme commended the president for the upgrading of Enugu Airport to an international standard.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president was in Enugu to inaugurate the local wing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
The president also laid the foundation stone of the international terminal building.