Nigeria Content Online

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.