Governors of the six South South states under the BRACED Commission, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta, said they are determined to reposition the Commission, stating that the original aim was to promote regional socio-economic development and integration that will be mutually beneficial to the states.

The BRACED Commission was established in 2010 under Article 14 of the BRACED Agreement and signed on June 13, 2011. Its objective is to promote economic cooperation and regional integration among the South-South States, contributing to the increasing standards of living of the people of the region.

The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, along with the governors of Akwa-Ibom, Pastor Umo Eno, Bayelsa, Douye Diri, and Delta State, represented by the Deputy Governor, Monday Onyeme, attended the regional organization meeting held at the Executive Council Chamber of the Edo State Government House in Benin.

In a communiqué after the meeting, Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is also the chairman of the commission, emphasized that there is an urgent need for a review of the Nigerian Constitution so that more powers, resources, and responsibilities are devolved to the states for faster economic growth and development, security, and peaceful coexistence.

They assured the people of the region that the council has a duty to properly position and strengthen the Commission to enable it to accomplish the desire of the region to foster economic cooperation and integration among states in the South.

The governors resolved to foster regional economic cooperation and integration with a view to achieving sustainable development through the creation of a strong regional economy for the collective benefit of the people of the South-South.

They stated a plan to establish and inaugurate the BRACED Business Council to forge closer partnerships with the council to improve the business climate, attracting investors and businesses into the region.

They plan to also better engage the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ensure that its activities is of  benefit to the BRACED states.

The governors will also collectively engage the Federal Government on the development of key infrastructure in the region, particularly roads, rail development (a fast train from Lagos to Calabar), the decentralization and rehabilitation of the seaports in the region, as well as the management of security in the country.

They are to direct the Commissioners of Environment and Attorney-Generals of the various  states to meet and collectively examine the feasibility of a regional environmental law and environmental blue carbon partnership for the protection of the mangrove forest ecosystems of the South and to work with the Federal Government for the benefit of the region.