Nigeria Today Magazine News Gov. Diri Elected Chairman of South-South Governors Forum, Promises Regional Development

Gov. Diri Elected Chairman of South-South Governors Forum, Promises Regional Development


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In a significant move towards regional collaboration, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has been unanimously elected as the chairman of the South-South Governors Forum. The election took place during a meeting held at the Government House in Yenagoa, where Cross River Governor Bassey Otu was appointed as vice chairman.

During the meeting, which saw the participation of governors from across the South-South region, Governor Diri emphasized that his new role was a collective responsibility aimed at advancing the interests of the region. “This is not an office for me alone; it’s a collective task for all governors of the South-South to move the region forward,” he stated.

Diri outlined the forum’s objectives, which include fostering synergy among member states and promoting investments in key sectors such as security, agriculture, education, and tourism. He called for a united front in addressing the challenges facing the region, particularly in light of a rapidly changing national and global landscape.

The governors expressed their commitment to working together, highlighting the necessity of a unified voice to ensure that the South-South region receives the attention it deserves from the federal government. They noted that previous collaborative efforts, such as those under the BRACED Commission, had fallen short of expectations and called for renewed focus under Diri’s leadership.

In a communique issued after the meeting, the governors voiced their support for the ongoing tax reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu. They urged the president to extend the proposed VAT sharing to encompass oil and gas derivation, advocating for an increase in the minimum 13% oil derivation to better support the states in the region.

Additionally, the forum welcomed the commencement of the coastal road project but requested that it also begin from the Calabar axis to enhance connectivity and stimulate economic growth. The governors also urged for expedited work on the East-West Road and called for the extension of remediation efforts in Ogoni land to other polluted areas in the region.

The meeting concluded with the celebration of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s 50th birthday, marking a moment of camaraderie among the leaders.

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