By Ovat Abeng
The National Vice President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Pharm. Uche Apakama has lamented the Federal Government of Nigeria’s inability to encourage Interstate -National Integration in the Southeast part of the country.
Apakama who is also the President of Association of Anambra Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture(AACCIMA) made the commendation on Wednesday,10th June,2026 during Nationwide Subnational Engagement and Technical Reform Workshop 2026 organized by Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) at International Convention Centre (ICC), Awka, Anambra State.
According to him, the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not done very well to develop the economy of Southeast generally, adding that the workshop should have been communicated to the traders at Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka and Ekwulobia, who actually need to be in the hall to benefit from the lectures.
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He further stated that beyond lectures, Federal Government needs to put conscious efforts to educate Anambra businessmen and traders about what they are talking about, stressing that traders form bulk of Anambra State citizenry and business.
“The traders are the people who make Anambra State, and not the professionals. Anambra is specially a trading commercial city state. Over 80% of people of Anambra State are into trading,” Apakama emphasized.
He further condemned the recent announcement of 5 Seaports in Nigeria by the Federal Government which Southeast was excluded. He added that Federal Government also excluded Southeast from the Railway Project and Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and according to him, all these things enable movement of people and goods, and also boost economy.
Speaking further, Pharmacist Apakama, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of PAX Pharmaceutical Company, Onitsha condemned the abandonment of Onitsha Riversport Dredging Project, and International Cargo Airports in the Southeast.
On the issue of South East Development Commission (SEDC), he stated that nothing much had been released to the commission, and that it is not all about budget but availability of funds.
“It is not all about budget,how much has been released to them? Other people had it before Southeast,such as Niger Delta. Why will our own be different? South East Development Commission doesn’t have secretariat in Abuja. Have you gone there? They are still on take off for 6 to 9months”, Apakama stated.
He disclosed that SEDC was not empowered to build International Airports, Seaports, Railways, Telecommunications but they could only advise Federal Government to come and build those things in the region, adding that the mega job is done by the Federal Government.
According to him, SEDC can only do one or two roads where there are challenges, noting that Mark Okoye is doing very well but he needs to be well mobilized and assisted to do what they have to do.
He therefore called on the Federal Government to do everything possible to ensure that the Small Window Industrial Court and other incentives are made available to the small businessmen, small traders and small companies in Anambra State, stressing that if they apply what they taught people at the workshop, Anambra would change over night.
In another development, Pharmacist Apakama has lauded governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for his network of dual carriage roads and new Industrial City, which is a masterstroke in the State, adding that they could see themselves coming together in one environment to grow Anambra economy, and that is a way of business development and enhancement.
He therefore noted that a support from the Federal Government is very critical for the State to perform very well.
Concluding, he urged the Federal Government to make intentional efforts towards making the non-functional Cargo International Airports in the Southeast to start functioning.
“They should see the need to revolutionize one Cargo Airport in the Southeast to be able to carry goods in and out”, Apakama stressed.
