By GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN — GOVERNORS of the South- South geo-political zone of the country, yesterday, commiserated with the  Ondo State Government, family of the late Governor Olusegun Agagu and those that lost their lives in the air crash that occurred, yesterday, when the remains of the former governor was being conveyed from Lagos to Akure.

They also condoled with the government and people of Yobe and Bornu States over the recent Boko Haram attacks.

Meanwhile the governors resolved to engage the Federal Government on the fiscal development notably among other issues, include the speedy completion of the East-West Road project, the proposed coastal railways from Calabar to Lagos and the Niger Delta energy corridor.

The south-south governors, who met under the aegis of BRACED Commission, comprising Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Edo and Delta States, in Benin Edo State, also listed other issues they will engage the Federal Government to include  the development of ports in the region notably, the deep water seaport in Bayellsa, Akwa-Ibom, Delta and the dredging, rehabilitation of Port-Harcourt and Calabar ports and the completion of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas and Bonny Gas Project.

Chairman of the forum  and governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, after over hours of deliberation said: “the council decided to endorse the commission’s recommendation of agriculture, education, environment, regional infrastructure, investment as contained in the mid-term review.

“Council also decided to support and strengthen the BRACED Commission to enable it accomplished its mandate.

Recognising that the progress made so far in transforming the economy of the region the governors and  expressing apprehension on the continued incidence of oil theft, which they noted was capable of destabilising the country’s economy, they  appealed for a concerted effort by the Federal Government to resolve the seeming intractable problem and nefarious activities of some miscreants, saboteurs and their local and international collaborators.

Insisting that it would  undertaking to do all within its powers to address the issues within its jurisdiction, the governors  urged the Federal Government, its agencies, oil companies and other stakeholders to take all necessary measures to stem the tide and deal decisively with the perpetrators.

Present at the meeting were, Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Liyel Imoke of Cross- River State, Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, while Akwa-Ibom State and Bayelsa State were represented by their deputy governors, Lady Valerie Ebe and Rear-Admiral Gbobioriogha John Jonah respectively.