Regional Integration: South West Govs Adopt Common Education, Agric Policy
Determined to strengthen the economic relations in the Southwest Region of the country, governors in the region yesterday adopted policy for the pursuit of common educational curriculum, security and agricultural for the zone.
This was part of a communiqué issued at the end of the quarterly meeting of the southwest governors’ economic forum in furtherance of of the Regional Integration of the zone powered by the Development Agenda for Western Commission (DAWN).
At the meeting held in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Monday, the governors agreed to make it a matter of compulsion to monitor Federal Government’s budgetary allocations to 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 is 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.
Other governors who were present at the meeting hosted by Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose and held at the Government House included, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) 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 unanimous in addressing the declining moral standards and put in plac 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.
Earlier in his opening speech, Fayose has advocated long term developmental plan for agriculture, education, security and physical infrastructures in the Southwest geo-political zone of the country.
He also said that the federal government’s allocation to the southwest in the N7 trillion worth 2017 budgetary provision was grossly inadequate to drive development in the zone.
The governor also canvassed for a concerted effort to curb the menace of rampaging herdsmen in the zone, to boost commercial agriculture and to encourage youths to embracing commercial agriculture.
Fayose stressed that there must be respect for divergent political beliefs and opinions to move the Southwest zone forward urging the governors to refrain from doing anything that will undermine one another.
“With the present economic realities, it has become pertinent that the necessary political will is put behind agriculture, education, security and physical infrastructures on the long run.
“For Instance, in the area of education, it is time for us to have a common curriculum.
“Also, we must ensure cooperation among our security chiefs, such that if a car is stolen anywhere in the region, it will be found before being taken out of the region.
“This task may appear enormous, but if we are determined and speak with one voice, as a people, it is achievable.
“For instance, in the 2017 federal government budget, the Southwest is one of the least beneficiaries. The federal government 2017 budget is about N7 trillion and the only capital project allocated to Ekiti State is the Akure – Ado Ekiti road to which N250 million was earmarked. What can N250 million do on Akure – Ado road that is begging for reconstruction? I am sure this is applicable to other states too compared to other zones.
“We must therefore ask pertinent questions. How much did the federal government allocate to irrigation, construction of dams and storage facilities to boast agriculture in the Southwest?
“We must equally take collective interest in the annual national budget to ensure that states in the Southwest are adequately catered for. This we must do by using our technical people to study the budget and make inputs on our behalf”, he said.
On the need for Yoruba race to stand united regardless of diverse political interests, Fayose said “Americans go about fighting their political battles without undermining the collective interests of their country, and that is the kind of spirit with which we must operate if the Yoruba nation must regain its pride of place in the
Nigeria nation”.
Stressing further on why destruction of farmlands and colossal damage to food production in the zone stop, Fayose said : “in promoting agriculture, we must take into consideration the menace of herdsmen, which has become major impediment. The question is, how do we continue to encourage our people to embrace farming when their investments are being lost daily?
While appealing to the governors to always take proactive actions to convert their deliberations into physical development, the Governor said there is need for zonal leaders to constantly engage the representatives in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the National Assembly and impress it upon them that they must use
their positions positively for the zone.
END
