
By Daniel Abia & Alemma Aliu Port Harcourt—After many years of inactivity, Governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta, BRACED, states are poised to reposition the commission for regional development and economic growth.
The commission held its first meeting in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, with all the governors of the six states in attendance.
In a 16-point communique after the meeting read by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo, who was also elected Chairman of the commission, noted that the governors of the six South-South states were poised to reposition the commission after a long period of inactivity, stressing that the original goal was to promote regional socio-economic development and integration that would be mutually beneficial to the states which they are determined to sustain.
The governors emphasised that there is the urgent need for a review of the Nigeria constitution such that more powers, resources and responsibilities are devolved to the states for faster economic growth and development, security and peaceful coexistence.
The communique stressed that the challenges of the commission were surmountable and asked member states to join hands in addressing the problems as quickly as possible to enable the region restart and accelerate its journey towards economic cooperation and integration.
The governors resolved “to foster regional economic cooperation and integration with a view to achieving sustainable development through the creation of a strong regional economy for the collective benefit of the people of the South-South.
“Establish and inaugurate the BRACED Business Council to forge closer partnership with the council to improve the business climate and attract investors and businesses into the region.
“To collectively engage the Federal Government on the development of key infrastructure in the region, particularly roads, rail development (fast train from Lagos to Calabar), the decentralisation and rehabilitation of the seaports in the region as well as the management of security in the country.
