Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has urged governors across the South-West to deepen cooperation and harmonise their development plans in order to accelerate growth across the region.
Hamzat said the South-West could achieve greater economic progress by working together and coordinating policies, rather than relying primarily on constitutional reforms to address the region’s development challenges.
Speaking on the need for stronger regional integration, the Lagos deputy governor stressed that the states must begin taking practical steps to connect their economies and development programmes.
He argued that better coordination among the states would allow them to pursue common priorities and maximise the benefits of the region’s collective resources.
Hamzat also called for greater alignment in the preparation and implementation of state budgets, saying development would remain difficult if each state continued to operate without sufficient consideration for the plans and priorities of its neighbours.
According to him, regional integration should translate into practical cooperation that improves infrastructure, economic activity and the quality of life of residents across the South-West.
He noted that the region already possesses significant economic and human resources that could be better harnessed through collective planning and collaboration.
The deputy governor maintained that the South-West does not necessarily have to wait for constitutional amendments before pursuing initiatives capable of promoting regional development.
He urged the governors to identify areas where their states could work together, share best practices and coordinate major development projects.
Hamzat’s call comes amid renewed discussions about strengthening cooperation among South-West states and finding practical ways to accelerate development across the region.
