• Tasks FG on infrastructure challenges in region
After a long period of inactivity, the governors of the six South South states, under the aegis of BRACED Commission, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta said they are determined to reposition the Commission, stating that the original aim was to promote regional socio-economic development and integration that will be mutually beneficial to the states.
Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, alongside the governors of Akwa-Ibom, Umo Eno, Bayelsa, Douye Diri, and Delta, represented by the deputy, Monday Onyeme, attended the regional organisation meeting held at the Executive Council Chamber of the Edo State Government House in Benin, yesterday.
In a communiqué after the meeting, Governor Godwin Obaseki emphasised that there is the urgent need for a review of the Nigeria Constitution such that more powers, resources and responsibilities are devolved to the states for faster economic growth and development, security and peaceful coexistence.
They assured that the council has an obligation to properly position and strengthen the Commission to enable it to accomplish the region’s desire to foster economic cooperation and integration among states of the South South. He noted that the region, its people and country will be the ultimate beneficiaries.
The communiqué stressed that the challenges of the Commission were surmountable, urging member states to join hands in addressing the problems as quickly as possible to enable the region restart and accelerate its journey towards economic cooperation and integration.
According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to Fubara, the governors also resolved “to foster regional economic cooperation and integration with a view to achieving sustainable development through the creation of a strong regional economy for the collective benefit of the people of the South-South.
“The governors resolved to establish and inaugurate the BRACED Business Council to forge closer partnership with the council to improve the business climate, attracting investors and businesses into the region.
“The governors will also collectively engage the Federal Government on the development of key infrastructure in the region, particularly roads, rail development (fast train from Lagos to Calabar), the decentralisation and rehabilitation of the seaports in the region, as well as management of security in the country.
“To direct the Commissioners of Environment and Attorney-Generals of the states to meet and collectively examine the feasibility of a regional environmental law and environmental blue carbon partnership for the protection of the mangroves forest ecosystems of the South South; and to work with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the benefit of the region.
