The South East Youth Forum (SEYF) has urged the Federal Government to immediately release funds for the South East Development Commission (SEDC), warning that delays are worsening frustrations in the region. Speaking in a statement on Thursday, September 18, SEYF convener, Obiora Osunkwo, described the withholding of funds as a betrayal of promises made when the SEDC was established. “We remind Mr President that the agitation in the South East remains intense and that promises unfulfilled deepen frustrations and widen the trust deficit between the region and the centre,” he said. The youth forum warned that withholding funds undermines peacebuilding, stressing that development across agriculture, infrastructure, energy, trade and technology was essential for reducing insecurity. “The SEDC is not just a development tool, it is also a peacebuilding mechanism,” Osunkwo added.