The South West Governors’ Forum convened on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, to discuss pressing regional issues. After extensive deliberations, the forum released a communiqué outlining critical resolutions.
Here are the top ten takeaways from the meeting:
Commendation of Tinubu’s economic efforts
The forum praised President Bola Tinubu for fostering economic stability, particularly in the sustained supply of petroleum products and the stabilisation of the exchange rate. The governors urged citizens to support the administration’s economic initiatives.
Support for the student loan scheme
Applauding the federal government’s implementation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the governors encouraged South West students in tertiary institutions to take full advantage of the scheme for higher education and skills acquisition.
Congratulates Aiyedatiwa
The forum congratulated Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa on his victory in the November 16, 2024, Ondo State gubernatorial election, reaffirming their support for his administration.
Regional security and establishment of joint security surveillance
Acknowledging the relative peace in the South West, the governors called for sustained efforts to maintain security and peaceful coexistence in all states.
Read also: Major decisions made by South West governors at Lagos meeting in June
Raising concerns over ISWAP’s presence in parts of the region, the forum strongly condemned the terror group’s activities and pledged enhanced collaboration between state security outfits and federal law enforcement to counter threats.
To improve security coordination, the forum resolved to set up a Joint Surveillance Monitoring Team. The initiative will deploy advanced technology, including aerial surveillance systems, while special advisers on security across the states will collaborate on intelligence gathering.
South West Development Commission (SWDC) headquarters
The governors commended the establishment of the South West Development Commission (SWDC) and agreed to situate its headquarters at Cocoa House, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Support for Odu’a Investment Company
Recognising Odu’a Investment Company Limited’s efforts in managing regional assets, the governors praised its redevelopment of Premier Hotel in Ibadan and the proposed transformation of Lagos Airport Hotel. The governors also lauded the company’s broader economic investments.
Tackling food inflation
Concerned about rising food prices, the forum resolved to establish a State Food Inflation Joint Monitoring Team and create Aggregation Centres/Food Hubs across the region. These initiatives aim to curb the influence of exploitative middlemen inflating commodity prices.
Commendation of DAWN Commission
The governors recognised the improved performance of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission over the past year. The governors encouraged the commission to continue collaborating with South West agricultural and industrial sectors for sustainable regional development.
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