South-south/South-east Governors review state of the nation.

[FMINigeria]

                        South-South and South-East Governors have commended Dr Goodluck Jonathan, for his focused leadership and bold, result-oriented, transformation agenda, which deserves the unwavering support of all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, alike.

The commendation was made in Asaba, the Delta State Capital where the Governors met to review the state of the nation and other topical issues confronting the maturing democracy of Nigeria.

The Governors also commended the laudable achievements of President Jonathan's administration in strengthening our democracy, stabilizing the polity; growing the economy and improving the quality of life of all citizens which has continued to unfold.

On the economic and political integration of the old Eastern and Midwest regions now the South-South and South-East, the Governors pledged to strengthen cooperation across board with focus on development of infrastructure linking the region particularly, federal roads.

The Governors also called on the Federal Government to rehabilitate all rail lines linking the States in both regions as well as embark on the construction of railway links between the States.  While pledging to work together to ensure the development of all the ports in the region, including the Abia Dry port, they called on the Nigeria Port s Authority to facilitate the achievement of this objective.

The Governors commended the President for the extensive ongoing rehabilitation/modernization of the airports across the country particularly, those in the South-South and South East regions but want the President Jonathan to establish cargo airports at Owerri and additional deep-sea ports in the regions, including Ibaka, Escravos, Agge  including the dredging of the Calabar port.

They agreed to work to revive agro-allied industries with emphasis on palm and rubber plantations to exploit the comparative advantage in agriculture in both regions. The Governors further called on the Federal Government to facilitate the full implementation of the free trade zones status amongst the States of the region.

On security and state of the nation, the South-South and South-East Governors pleaded with all Nigerians to adopt dialogue and peaceful means to resolve issues affecting the country and resolved to work together to ensure regional cooperation in stemming the spate of kidnapping, arson, pipeline vandalism well as other nefarious activities in the region in order to secure the regions and  ensure that it remains conducive environment for attracting investments.

The meeting expressed concern at the condemnable behaviour and antics of some Nigerians and their evil collaborators in assaulting the collective psyche of the Nation, by waging various acts of terrorism.  They therefore, commiserated with the President, the Governments of all affected areas, the victims, their families and majority of peace-loving Nigerians and further salute the resolute stance of Mr. President to confront terrorism wherever and whenever it occurs in Nigeria.

The South-South and South-East Governors appealed to all law-abiding citizens to sincerely join hands with Government to stamp out these and other evils from our society.

In a related development, the forum sympathized with their South-East colleagues and indeed all Nigerians on the transition of Professor Chinua Achebe maintaining that they sincerely condole with the Achebe family and acknowledge his legacy as a literary giant and international ambassador of Nigerian culture.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria