PHOTO CREDIT: The Sun Nigeria / Cross River State Government House, Calabar
South-South Governors Push for Unified Economic Bloc
Governors of the six South-South states have agreed to forge a strong regional economic alliance to transform the zone into an integrated industrial and maritime hub.

The decision was the highpoint of the communique issued after their second meeting held in Calabar on Monday, chaired by the Chairman of the Forum and Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri.

According to the governors, the region can no longer remain the cash cow of the nation while its people suffer from decaying infrastructure and environmental degradation. They said it is time to replace isolated state projects with shared infrastructure and value chains.

Key priorities listed include:
• A regional rail network • Rehabilitation and modernization of Calabar, Port Harcourt and Warri ports • Leveraging the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to boost trade and movement
To drive the agenda, the BRACED Commission Director-General, Ambassador Joe Keshi, presented proposals on regional infrastructure, especially rail, while PANDEF National Chairman, Amb. Godknows Igali, called for a regional investment fund to finance cross-border projects and empower youths with skills and jobs.

Vice Chairman of the Forum and Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, said fragmentation has held the region back despite its natural resources, human capital and strategic location. “We must come together as a people; we must cooperate, and we must ensure that our voice is heard and respected,” he said.

Otu also called for a common position on VAT, oil and gas revenues and the 13% derivation principle, and appealed for support for Cross River’s bid to regain its oil-producing status. He proposed linking the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport to the East-West Road and ports in Bayelsa and Delta, and urged value addition in agriculture, particularly cassava processing and ethanol.

Governor Diri warned that the Forum must move beyond communiques to action. “We cannot afford to remain a region of meetings and communiqués. The meeting must produce movement,” he said, insisting that every resolution must have timelines and measurable outcomes.

He said connectivity through roads, rail, air and maritime, including the East-West Road and Lagos-Calabar Highway, is central to cutting logistics costs and attracting investment, with a vision for the South-South as “Nigeria’s gas-industrial hub, West Africa’s maritime gateway and the country’s leading blue-economy zone.”

The governors also linked economic growth to security and environment, calling for intelligence sharing to protect oil installations and maritime routes, expanded environmental remediation in the Niger Delta, and stronger partnership with the Federal Government.

They resolved to engage President Bola Tinubu on infrastructure, environmental and economic concerns, pledging 100% support for his re-election in 2027, while maintaining pressure for fiscal justice and development.

To ensure implementation, the Forum will now meet quarterly. The next meeting is scheduled for Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from November 6 to 8, 2026.
SOURCE:The Sun Nigeria –