Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has been elected as the chairman of the South-South States Commission (BRACED), a regional body that aims to foster economic cooperation and integration among six states in Nigeria.
Obaseki hosted his counterparts from Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Delta states at the commission meeting on Thursday, where he was unanimously chosen to lead the group for the next two years.
The meeting, which was held at the Edo State Government House in Benin City, was the first in the new dispensation, after a long period of inactivity. The governors said the meeting was necessary to address the critical challenges facing the region and to proffer solutions that would benefit their people.
According to a communiqué read by Obaseki after the meeting, the governors expressed their determination and commitment to drive the process of regional economic cooperation and integration, as a practical step towards the creation of a zone of economic development.
They also pledged to address the challenges faced by the BRACED Commission, which was established in 2010 to promote regional socio-economic development and integration that would be mutually beneficial to the states.
The governors resolved to establish and inaugurate the BRACED Business Council, which would forge a closer partnership with the private sector and attract investments and businesses into the region.
They also agreed to collectively engage the federal government in the development of key infrastructure in the region, particularly roads, rail, seaports, and security.
They further directed the commissioners of environment and attorneys-general of the states to meet and examine the feasibility of a regional environmental law and a blue carbon partnership for the protection of the mangrove forest ecosystems of the South-South.
The governors also resolved to forge a closer and cordial relationship with other regions for the creation of economic corridors that would be beneficial to the region.
They also pledged their commitment to work with and support President Muhammadu Buhari to improve the standard of living of the people of the South-South region.
The governors expressed their appreciation to Obaseki for hosting the meeting and congratulated him on his re-election as the governor of Edo State.
They also commended the people of Edo State for their peaceful conduct during the governorship election and urged them to continue to support the administration of Obaseki.
The governors said they looked forward to the next meeting of the commission, which would be held in March 2024 in Bayelsa State.
The South-South region of Nigeria is one of the six geopolitical zones in the country and comprises six states: Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta.
The region is rich in natural resources, especially oil and gas, and contributes significantly to the national economy.
However, the region also faces several challenges, such as environmental degradation, insecurity, unemployment, poverty, and underdevelopment.
The BRACED Commission was conceived as a platform to address these challenges and to harness the potential of the region for the benefit of its people.
The commission has also been involved in various initiatives, such as agriculture, power, education, environment, and sports.
The commission’s vision is to transform the South-South region into a prosperous, peaceful, and integrated economic zone within Nigeria and West Africa.
Source: Business Day
