Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has been elected as the new chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, following a meeting held at the Government House in Yenagoa. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State nominated Diri, with Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River selected as Vice Chairman.
Key Resolutions and Infrastructure Demands
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the governors commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating the Coastal Road project but urged that construction begin from the Calabar axis. They also called for the immediate completion of the long-delayed East-West Road project, which is crucial for the region’s economic development.
The governors pushed for:
- Regional Transportation: A South-South regional flight service and rail network to boost economic integration.
- Environmental Remediation: Expansion of the ongoing Ogoni land clean-up to other polluted areas in the region.
- Security Enhancement: Establishing a South-South Regional Security Network to improve safety and economic stability.
- Revenue Allocation Reform: Extending the proposed VAT sharing percentages to include oil and gas derivation.
Fubara Calls for Regional Unity and Development
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, emphasized the need for governors in the Niger Delta to prioritize regional development over personal political interests. He criticized the ongoing struggle to complete the East-West Road, despite the region being Nigeria’s economic backbone.
“It is sad that the Niger Delta, which sustains the nation’s economy, has to beg for the completion of a critical road like the East-West Road. We must start valuing ourselves before outsiders will take us seriously,” Fubara stated.
Expanding Regional Collaboration
Fubara also called for broader inclusion of stakeholders beyond the BRACED Commission (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta) in discussions about the region’s future.
Governor Diri, in reading the communiqué, reaffirmed the forum’s commitment to supporting federal tax reforms while advocating for fairer revenue distribution to oil-producing states.
The meeting concluded with a surprise celebration of Governor Fubara’s 50th birthday, attended by governors from Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa.
