South-East lawmakers have formally petitioned President Bola Tinubu over the exclusion of the region from the Federal Government's N380 billion irrigation intervention under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.

Representative Chinedu Ogah, who represents Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, disclosed this on Monday during a media briefing in Abakaliki, expressing confidence that the President would address the oversight.

"I have written to the minister myself, we are doing whatever we believe we can do because there is so much irrigation in the zone," Ogah stated. "Senators from the South-East have not only lamented the exclusion but have also moved a motion in that regard."

The lawmaker emphasized that the exclusion was likely not deliberate, attributing it to possible oversights by staff members involved in the package preparation. He cited a previous incident where he successfully advocated for the inclusion of the South-East in the national light rail project after initial exclusion.

"During the time of budget, when the South-East, North-Central and parts of the West and South-South were excluded in the light rail, I raised the objection on the floor of the House and called the attention of the President to include the South-East and other parts of Nigeria. You find out that they have already implemented that now," he explained.

Ogah maintained that President Tinubu's administration has been supportive of the South-East region through various initiatives in infrastructure development, agriculture, health, and commerce. He specifically highlighted the distribution of fertilizers to rural farmers across all constituencies last year.

The representative also commended House Speaker Dr. Tajudin Abbas for "accommodating members and looking on the lives and improvement of the members," particularly during the fuel subsidy removal period by ensuring constituency projects worth billions were implemented.

In the same briefing, Ogah praised Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru for his achievements in infrastructure, agriculture, commerce, industry, and healthcare. According to the lawmaker, the governor has constructed approximately 900 kilometers of roads, provided agricultural inputs including tractors, and improved healthcare by procuring equipment and increasing doctors' salaries.

"This is a governor that has dropped the debt of Ebonyi State. He has paid almost about 90 percent and now he has never even dreamt of borrowing. And he tries to manage with the resources," Ogah added.

The South-East lawmakers remain hopeful that their petition will result in the region's inclusion in the irrigation fund distribution, ensuring equitable development across all geopolitical zones.