South-South governors meet in Bayelsa, canvass speedy completion of East-West road

Governors of the South-South geopolitical zone on Tuesday met in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State over economic and security issues affecting the region.

The meeting, hosted by Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, took place at the Governor’s Conference Room, Government House, Yenagoa.

In his opening address, Governor Diri underscored the strategic importance of the gathering, emphasizing the need for greater synergy among the six South-South states.

He highlighted critical areas for collaboration, including security, agriculture, education, power, environment, tourism, and youth empowerment through sports, ICT, and entrepreneurship.

“The swiftly changing landscape of our country and the world at large highlights the clear and urgent need for enhanced regional collaboration and development,” the governor noted.

“Our shared progress and prosperity are tightly connected to our capacity to work together toward a common aim.”

He lamented the adverse effects of oil exploration and the inadequate returns for the region despite being Nigeria’s economic backbone.

“Everywhere we turn, it seems that the proverbial curse of oil wealth has held us hostage,” he observed.

Diri urged his fellow governors to leverage the BRACED Commission, a think-tank established in 1999 to facilitate collective development in the South-South region.

He stressed the need to move beyond mere communiqués and memoranda.

“It is time to turn words into action and transform our shared aspirations into tangible results,” he asserted.

He emphasized the necessity of catalysing regional investment and development by focusing on key sectors with immense potential for job creation and socio-economic growth.

He also called for the speedy completion of the East-West Road, a critical artery connecting all South-South states.

Addressing regional security concerns, Governor Diri highlighted recent incidents in Okuoma, Okoloba, and Igbomotoru, stressing the need for region-specific security measures.

“By pooling together our collective wisdom, experiences, and resources, we can devise strategies to prevent and mitigate future security threats,” he stated, underscoring the role of governors as chief security officers.

In attendance at the meeting were Governors Bassey Otu (Cross River), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) and the host governor Duoye Diri (Bayelsa).