Governors canvass regional integration for robust development

Head of Service, Danladi Kifasi (left) with Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi).

Faces at the ongoing Economic Summit, Abuja, Nigeria

GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and his counterparts from Ogun, Oyo and Anambra states, Ibikunle Amosun; Abiola Ajimobi and Willie Obiano respectively have advocated for a regional integration and economic co-operation among states of the federation.

Head of Service, Danladi Kifasi (left) with Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi).

The call, according to them, has

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (left); Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mike Ikpoki and Corporate Service Executive, Akinwale Goodluck.

become imperative in view of the dwindling oil prices and drop in allocations to the states from the Federation Account.

Speaking yesterday at the sub-

national session of the ongoing 21st National Economic Summit (NES), the governors, who took turns to buttress the need for states to return to regional system of governance for better and faster development.

Aregbesola said that states in Nigeria could hardly make much impact solitarily.

“We inherited a legacy from the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, competiveness for our region. To those who are talking about states, I laugh at them. The states

in Nigeria are so atomised, there is hardly anything really they can do as a state, yes you can make effort, but regions are better placed to advance the economic interest of their people,” Aregbesola said.

On his part, Amosun while emphasizing the importance of regional integration and

Executive Director, Guardian Newspapers Limited, Toke Alex Ibru (left); Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and some delegates.

cooperation, disclosed that “over 50 per cent of the middle and lower cadres of the work force in Lagos State live in Ogun State. They put pressure on us in Ogun State but then they pay their taxes to Lagos State government,” adding that “in the area of IGR, of course we are leveraging on our proximity to Lagos and I hope that they are listening now so that they will continue to pay us all our dues.”

While concurring with the two speakers, Ajimobi added that his government was taking advantage of the strategic geographic location of the state to create a logistics centre in the state.

“We are trying to create a logistics centre in Oyo State. We are trying to create a network of industrial developments logistics. We have just concluded an arrangement to have storage facilities, manufacturing outfits near an industrial park and the industrial park is next to the

inland container depot that is a dry port.

“We have also just signed an agreement with some Chinese who are now ready to help us develop a small rail system that will couple up with the Federal Government line. What we

Kifasi (left); Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; Prof. Osinbajo; Adetoun Sulaiman; former Prime Minister of Georgia, Nika Gilauri; Dr. Joe Abah and Bassey Edem.

are saying is that we are looking at our size to take advantage and use it to integrate with other neighboring states,” Ajimobi stated.

Also speaking, Obiano who harped on the importance of cooperation among states for accelerated economic development, said his government was working with the Enugu State government to see how investors could develop coal because, according to him, Enugu State had coal in abundance and that they were looking at a scenario were the two states could

share the power generated from the coal power project.

He also hinted that his government was also working with Delta State government on the issue of waste management.

Governors El-Rufai (left); Abubakar; Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and Katsina State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Nuru Yakubu. PHOTOS: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO AND STATE HOUS