By Dianabasi Effiong
Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara alongside the governors of Akwa-Ibom, Pst. Umo Eno, Bayelsa, Sen. Douye Diri and Delta, represented by the deputy, Chief Monday Onyeme have attended a regional meeting under the auspices of the BRACED Commission (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Edo & Delta).
The meeting hosted by Gov. Godwin Obaseki, held at the Executive Council Chamber of the Edo State Government House in Benin on Thursday also restated the resolve to reposition for socioe-conomic development of the region.
In a 16-point communique at the end of the meeting, read by Gov. Godwin Obaseki, newly elected Chairman of the Commission, noted that the governors of the six South-South states were poised to reposition the Commission after a long period of inactivity.
He stated that the original goal was to promote regional socio-economic development and integration that would be mutually beneficial to the states which they were determined to sustain.
The governors emphasised that there was urgent need for a review of Nigeria’s constitution such that more powers, resources and responsibilities are devolved to the states for faster economic growth and development, security and peaceful co-existence.
They stated 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, noting that the region, its people and country will be the ultimate beneficiaries.
The communique stressed that the challenges of the Commission were surmountable and asked member states to join hands in addressing the problems as quickly as possible to enable the region to restart and accelerate its journey towards economic cooperation and integration.
The governors further 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”.
They also resoled to “establish and inaugurate a BRACED Business Council in order to forge closer partnership with the Council to improve the business climate and attract investors and businesses into the region.
They further resolved “to 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 decentralization and rehabilitation of the seaports in the region as well as the management of security in the country.
The communique stated to governors’ resolve “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.
In a brief report, the Director-General of the Commission, Amb. Joe Keshi, noted that since inception of the coalition establishment in 2011, its aim has been improve agriculture, education, environment, power, security and utilisation of sports to empower youths of the region.
Keshi, who also highlighted some of the Commission’s challenges, urged it to act promptly to address them.
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(L-R) Sir Monday Onyeme, Deputy Governor Delta State, Pst Umo Eno, Akwa-Ibom, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Edo, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers, Sen. Douye Diri, Bayelsa & Amb. Joe Keshi, DG, BRACED at the meeting in Edo on Thursday
