…Obaseki to chair meeting
Governors of the states of the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria will gather in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Tuesday, April 30, for the BRACED Commission Governors’ Council meeting.
The BRACED Commission, an acronym for the six South-South states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta, is a regional institution established to drive the process of cooperation and integration among the South-South states as well as socio-economic and infrastructural development of the oil-rich region.
The meeting, among other issues, will focus on regional interests and addressing critical issues affecting the region, including power, security, agricultural financing, and youth empowerment.
The meeting will be chaired by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who is the current Chairman of the Council, according to a statement by the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare.
Nehikhare also said in addition to Obaseki, the meeting will be attended by the governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Delta States.
“The BRACED Commission Governor’s Council, comprising the Governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa lbom, Cross River, Edo and Delta States will meet on Tuesday, 30 April 2024 in Yenegoa, Bayelsa state,” the Commissioner said in the statement.
“The meeting will discuss some crucial issues affecting the region including security and the power situation in the South-South. It will also discuss agricultural financing and empowerment of youths and women in the region.
“The meeting to be chaired by H. E Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State and current chairman of the council is part of the continuous efforts to revive and strengthen the BRACED Commission which was established in 2009 following the first South-South Economic Summit in Calabar, Cross River State,” he said.
At the last meeting of the BRACED Commission Governors’ Council in Benin City in January, where Governor Obaseki was elected Chairman, the Council had expressed determination and commitment to drive the process for cooperation and integration in the zone and pledged to address the challenges faced by the BRACED Commission.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and read by Obaseki, said the Council resolved, among other things:
“To foster regional economic cooperation and integration with a view to achieving sustainable development through the development of a strong regional economy for the collective benefits of the people of the South-South and invigorate the process of regional economic cooperation and integration.
“To establish and inaugurate the BRACED Business Council. This Council should endeavor to forge a closer partnership with the business council and utilize it to provide an improved business climate to attract businesses and investors into the region.
“To collectively engage the Federal Government on the development of key infrastructure in the region particularly roads, rail development and the decentralization and rehabilitation of seaports in the region as well as management of security in the Country at large.
“To engage the NDDC to ensure its activities benefit the BRACED States.
“To direct the Commissioners of Environment and Attorney-General of States to meet on climate issues affecting the States, particularly mangrove swamps.
“To forge a closer and cordial relationship with other regions for the creation of economic corridors that will be beneficial to the region.
“To pledge our commitment to work with the President of the Federal Government of Nigeria to improve the standard of living of the people of the South-South region. The Governors commit to work with and support each other for the purpose of improving the well-being and welfare of the people of the South-South.”
Obaseki said the Council also directed the DG to take steps to implement all the decisions taken at the meeting and report back to the Council before its next meeting in Bayelsa.
