Regional integration: South-West governors to adopt uniform educational, security, agric policies

Governors of the South-West region yesterday adopted policies for the pursuit of common educational, security and agricultural policies for the zone.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting held in Ado Ekiti on Monday, the governors agreed to make it a matter of compulsion to monitor Federal Government’s budgetary allocations on agriculture to the zone, to boost farming and make it a common interest in the region.

The communique read by the host governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, said it was expedient for the zone to exchange notes in the area of security through convergence of security chiefs and other intelligence institutions to manage the aerial, land and waterway security architecture of the zone.
Governors at the meeting included: the host, Governor Fayose , Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Mr Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos) and Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga.
The governors agreed to build a multi-modal transportation systems, including highways, water and air, energy and power, leisure and entertainments as well as in infrastructure.
“The governors were unanimous in addressing the declining moral standards and put in place structures to manage the loss of values and virtues in the society. A first step is a quality assurance and morality framework as a critical part of regional education.

“One centre each is to be donated by the governments of the states of western Nigeria as Regional Centre of Excellence”, he said.
Governor Ambode of Lagos also showed commitment towards making his state a critical stakeholder and critical part of Odua Investment group.
Fayose said the governors also adopted the Southwest Regional Integrated Commercial Agriculture Development Programme(RICARD) , with Lagos to champion a structured regional food exchange programme.
“We also approve the report of the sports development strategic plan of action for southwest Nigeria.

“Lagos was carefully chosen to host of DAWN inter-collegiate games to strengthen the bonds and
competitiveness among the youth in the region.
“States were also mandated to design modalities to key into the proposed rail project as a primary driver of inter-modal transportation system for the whole region”.
The governors agreed to host the next meeting in Ogun State in April, 2017.