The Southern States Governors’ Forum has announced the establishment of the Southern States Development Agenda (SSDA) to foster trade and investment, promote sustainable economic prosperity, and ensure regional food security. This initiative aims to leverage the collective strengths of the southern states to drive economic development and improve the quality of life for their citizens.
The SSDA will collaborate closely with individual states’ Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agencies, the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), and other multilateral agencies to achieve its objectives. The announcement was made in a communiqué issued at the end of the forum’s meeting on Monday in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
The forum highlighted the need for a more aggressive approach to food security in the region. It urged all states to intensify their agricultural revolution focusing on cash and food crops where each state has a comparative advantage. This strategy aims to achieve food sufficiency, self-reliance, and generate employment. Additionally, the forum encouraged the establishment of special agro-processing zones to maximize the value derived from the agro-value chain.
The communiqué reads: “The Forum commended the laudable economic recovery reforms and policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA). The forum unanimously reaffirmed their support for him in his unwavering resolve to reposition the country and build a great future for all of us.”
The southern governors praised President Tinubu for conceptualizing and initiating the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, which spans eight states. They noted that this project will create employment within the construction industry, boost productivity by significantly reducing travel time, promote tourism, and integrate all the southern states, thereby opening them up to more investment opportunities.
“The southern governors advocated that the Federal Government should rehabilitate, repair, and reconstruct Trunk A roads and transfer roads to states that have expressed interest in taking them over,” the communiqué stated.
The forum also announced plans to commission a regional multimodal transport master plan. This plan will prioritize connectivity by rail, road, air, and water to enhance regional connectivity and facilitate interstate and intra-region ease of doing business. This comprehensive approach aims to improve the overall infrastructure and ensure seamless movement of goods and people across the southern states.
Moreover, the SSDA aims to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, attract foreign direct investment, and stimulate local industries. By focusing on the strengths of each state, the SSDA will help in diversifying the economy, reducing dependency on oil revenues, and fostering sustainable development.
