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Southsouth governors yesterday resolved to work with President Bola Tinubu to improve the standard of living of the people of their zone.
They also reiterated their determination to address the socio-economic challenges of the oil and gas-rich zone. They said after a meeting in Benin, Edo State capital, that it had become very expedient for Southsouth to redefine its place and roles in the economic development of the country.
The meeting held under the BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta) Commission elected Governor Godwin Obaseki as chairman. Governors Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Sim Fubara (Rivers) and Umo Bassey Eno (Akwa Ibom) attended the meeting. Bassey Otu(Cross River) of Cross River State was absent.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State was represented by his deputy, Monday Onyeme, at the meeting that also had all the commissioners of budget and planning of the six states in attendance. Obaseki, who read a communiqué after the parley, noted that the meeting was held at a time Nigeria was facing enormous challenges.
He said: “It is against this background that the Southsouth region must redefine its place and roles in the economic development of Nigeria and for the benefit of our people. The director-general of the commission made a presentation, briefing the members on the works done by the commission since it came into inception, especially in the areas of agriculture, power, education, environment and sports.
“The council members spoke of the compelling need to collectively accelerate the development of the states and affirmed their support for the imperatives of the Southsouth economic cooperation and integration, as a practical step towards the creation of a zone of economic development.
“The council resolved as follows: “to foster regional economic cooperation and integration, to achieve sustainable development, through the development of a strong regional economy for the collective benefits of the people of the Southsouth and invigorate the process of regional economic cooperation and integration; to establish and inaugurate the BRACED Business Council. This council will endeavour to forge a closer partnership with the business council and utilise it to provide an improved business climate to attract businesses and investors into the region.
“ “to collectively engage the Federal Government on the development of key infrastructure in the region, particularly roads, rail development and the decentralisation and rehabilitation of seaports in the region, as well as management of security in the country at large; to engage the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ensure its activities benefit the BRACED states; to direct the Commissioners of Environment and Attorneys-General of states to meet on climate issues affecting the states, particularly mangrove swamps.” The Southsouth governors also called for a closer and more cordial relationship with other zones for the creation of economic corridors.
They pledged to work with and support one another for the purpose of improving the well-being and welfare of the people of the zone. The governors directed the director-general of the BRACED commission to implement the decisions taken and report back to the council before their next meeting in March.
(NATION)
