By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
South-South Governors Resolve To Establish Regional Security Network To Enhance Safety In Rivers, Edo, Othere
This call was made during the forum’s meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Government House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The South-South Governors’ Forum has urged the Federal Government to expedite the completion of the East-West Road, a critical infrastructure that links the region’s states.
This call was made during the forum’s meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Government House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
In a communique issued after the meeting, the governors also expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bill, with a caveat.
They urged the President to extend the proposed VAT sharing percentages to other areas of derivation, such as oil and gas.
The forum, which comprises governors from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers states, emphasized the need for unity and collaborative governance in addressing the region’s challenges.
They also called for the activation of the railway line in Port Harcourt and its connection to other states in the region.
Other key resolutions from the meeting include:
– Regional Security: Establishing a robust, structured regional security network to enhance safety and security in the South-South.
– Economic Diversification: Encouraging member states to broaden their economic horizons by diversifying beyond oil and gas.
– BRACED Commission: Reinvigorating the BRACED Commission to better represent the interests and aspirations of communities in the region.
Earlier, the governors unanimously picked Douye Diri, as chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum.
Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, emerged as vice chairman of the forum.
Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, moved the motion nominating Diri while his Rivers State counterpart, Siminalayi Fubara, seconded it.