Group Knocks Soludo Over Claim That South-East Contributes “8% of GDP”

The World Igbo Congress (WIC), the umbrella organisation of Ndi Igbo in the diaspora, has disagreed with remarks attributed to the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, on the economic contribution of the South-East to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), describing the comments as misleading and an incomplete reflection of the region’s economic weight.

Governor Soludo was reported to have made the remarks during a public economic engagement in Anambra State, where he referenced Nigeria’s regional economic structure and suggested that the South-East accounts for about 8 per cent of national GDP. 

He was also quoted as warning that persistent disruptions such as sit-at-home enforcement in parts of the region continue to undermine productivity and economic growth.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr. Festus Okere, and the Secretary-General, Sir Chris Ogara, the World Igbo Congress said while it acknowledges concerns raised about the economic impact of sit-at-home orders in parts of the South-East, it “respectfully but firmly” disagrees with both the substance and implications of the governor’s remarks.

The organisation argued that reducing the economic contribution of Ndi Igbo to GDP generated strictly within the South-East does not capture their broader economic presence across Nigeria and beyond. It noted that Igbo entrepreneurs are deeply embedded in commerce, industry, and services across major economic hubs including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, where significant business activities and investments are recorded outside their home region.

According to WIC, this wide geographical spread of economic activity means that the overall contribution of Ndi Igbo to Nigeria’s economy cannot be accurately measured through regional GDP figures alone. It maintained that the South-East continues to record economic output despite infrastructural deficits, security challenges, and long-standing gaps in federal investment, adding that any attempt to reduce its role to a single percentage figure presents a “narrow interpretation of a complex economic reality.”

The group further expressed concern over what it described as the broader implication of the comments, particularly interpretations suggesting that Nigeria would experience limited economic consequence if the South-East were significantly weakened. It described such framing as insensitive and potentially harmful to national cohesion.

WIC warned that statements of this nature, if not carefully articulated, risk deepening perceptions of marginalisation and could undermine ongoing efforts toward inclusion and unity in the country. It urged public officials to exercise greater caution and responsibility in their public engagements, especially on sensitive national issues.

While reiterating the need to discourage actions that negatively affect economic activity in the South-East, including sit-at-home enforcement, the organisation stressed that such concerns should be addressed without diminishing the region’s economic and national contributions. It called for increased investment in infrastructure, improved security architecture, and inclusive policies that would enhance productivity and growth in the region.

The group maintained that Governor Soludo is entitled to his opinion but does not speak for Ndi Igbo as a collective, adding that no individual or institution has the authority to define the worth of the Igbo people based on limited economic indicators.

Reaffirming its position, the World Igbo Congress said Ndi Igbo remain one of Africa’s most entrepreneurial and economically active populations, with contributions that extend beyond any single statistical measure.

The statement concluded: “Governor Soludo is entitled to his opinion but he does not speak for Ndi Igbo as a whole, nor does any individual or group have the authority to define the worth of the Igbo nation based on limited economic indicators."

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