Fatimah Otunsanya
The South West Governors and other stakeholders in the region, have advocated for accelerated regional integration through strategic infrastructure projects, including intra-regional railway networks, industrial hubs, and farm settlements.
They, also, in a communique issued after a two day summit, held in Akure, the Ondo state capital, equally called the attention of the federal government to the deplorable conditions of some of the federal roads in the region.
The South West summit was attended by the state governor’s in the region, their deputies, Ministers, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the region.
According to them, “These transformative projects in the region, will enhance trade, create jobs, boost food security, and strengthen economic ties among Southwest states, while strengthening the region’s position as Nigeria’s economic powerhouse.
”We call the attention of the Federal Government to the deplorable conditions of some of the federal roads in the Southwest, including the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha federal highway, the Lagos–Abeokuta expressway, the Ita-Owure–Ado-Ekiti highway, and the Ifaki–Lokoja highway.
They asked “the Federal Government to intensify public enlightenment and information dissemination on the government’s policies, programs, and expected impacts, recognizing that citizens require clear, transparent, and regular communication to fully understand policy rationale, and implementation timelines, as well as measurable outcomes.
On political leadership and governance, they said that “Political leaders at all levels of government must be guided by vision, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of the people rather than narrow partisan interests. Good governance requires prioritization of citizens’ needs in all policy decisions and resource allocations, and this should be done with accountability and transparency.
The Southwest stakeholders express strong support for the bold economic reforms being implemented by the Federal Government under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, acknowledging that while these reforms may present short-term challenges, they are essential for Nigeria’s long-term economic stability and prosperity.