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The Governors of the South-East and South-South States of Nigeria met in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Sunday, November 26, 2017, to discuss and take a stand on issues common to the interests of the States in the two regions and the affairs of the Nation.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Seven Governors and two Deputy Governors were in attendance. Others present at the meeting were Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. Prof. Ivara Esu and Dr. Nkem Okeke, both Deputy Governors, represented the Governors of Cross River and Anambra States respectively.
The Forum reiterated its earlier decision to move in the one direction that would be beneficial to the political and economic interest of the states in the two zones.
The Forum expressed concern with the fact that despite the increase in prices as well as production capacity of oil, revenue accruing to the states do not reflect these current realities. The Forum therefore urges the Federal Government to ensure improved revenue allocation to the states to reflect the current realities to enable the states meet the yearnings and expectations of their people.
Worried about the abysmal state of road infrastructure in the zones, The Forum proposed that the Federal Government relinquishes all ‘federal’ roads to States where such roads are located and facilitate legislation that would ease concession of the roads. In the Interim, the Forum appeals to the Federal Government to intervene urgently to improve on the current state of some critical infrastructural facilities located in the zone. Some of these facilities include: The Port Harcourt International Airport; The Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar; The Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Sam Mbakwe International Airport;, and several other roads located in the zone.
The Forum noted the rather shoddy approach to infrastructural development by some intervention agencies of the Federal Government operating in the regions and appealed to the Federal Government to urge these agencies to liaise with the respective State Governments in the identification and execution of infrastructural projects. The Forum believes that this approach will ensure that the projects carried out by the intervention agencies are in sync with the developmental agenda of the respective states and will lead to better standards of project execution.
The Forum adjourned to meet again at a date to be communicated in due course.
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