YENAGOA-Bight Newspaper reports that Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Crossriver, Edo And Delta States Governor’s council acronymed as (BRACED) has held its 12th meeting at the Bayelsa State Government House, Yenagoa on Tuesday.
The council which has the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki as it chairman had met to address relative issues affecting the region covering its member states.
In a nine points communique read by its Chairman, Governor Godwin Obaseki after the meeting, BRACED amongst other things called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to hasten up the repairs work on the East-West road.
The council while commending President Tinubu on the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project, enjoined the Federal government to as well begin work from Calabar end of the road.
Other vital points addressed in the communique include; the poor state of electricity across the region tasking member governments to invest hugely on electricity.
Condeming the gruesome killings of military personnel which occurred on March 14th in Delta State, the council however called on the Federal Government to properly define the missions of military troops operating in the area.
Read the full communique below;
” COMMUNIQUE
12TH MEETING ON THE BRACED COMMISSION GOVERNORS’ COUNCIL
The 12th meeting of the BRACED Commission Governors Council was held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state on Tuesday, 30th April 2024, at the Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
- Council highlighted on the need for member states of the BRACED commission to develop better regional interconnectivity though road, rail, water and air systems.
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Council call on the Federal Government to expedite work on the East-West Road. It further commended the President for commencing the construction of the coastal road from Lagos to Calabar and appealed that, for speedy completion, work should also commence from Calabar end.
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Council commended the Federal Government for the establishment of the National Agriculture Fund [NADF] and look forward to working with the agency to improve the economic development of the region particularly in the area of Agro-entreprenuership and food sufficiency.
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Council condemned unequivocal, the killing of 17 military officers and expresses its condolences to the Commander-in-chief, the military hierarchy and especially to the families of the bereaved officers. It called on the Federal Government to set up a high-powered commission of inquiry to unearth what transpired, to avoid such occurrences in the future.
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Council called on the Federal government to properly define the missions of the troops deployed to the region. Involvement in community, boundary, business or family disputes should not be part of the military operational mission. Council also appealed to the military to allow the villagers return home and resume their normal life.
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The meeting commended Bayelsa State government on its cooperation with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNDOC] to build a peace architecture to curb crimes and prevent violence in the state and discussed modalities for the expansion of the program to include other states in the region.
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Council welcomed the ongoing efforts of the States to promote financial literacy and skills acquisition among women and youths, in order to promote the growth of small and medium enterprises in the region and directed that the trainings and ongoing efforts should be sustained throughout the region
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Council noted the persistent poor state of electricity in the region despite huge investments in the power sector by successive governments of the region. It therefore called on the power companies operating in the region to work more closely with the state governments to ensure the operationalization of the new Electricity Act of 2023. It also called on the Federal Government to embark on a comprehensive review of the power sector, particularly, with reference to transmission.
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Finally, Council expressed its appreciation and commended H.E. Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa state, for his warm hospitality and all arrangements made to ensure the success of the meeting. Council also expressed its appreciation to the Chairman, H.E. Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo state, and commended him for his leadership and drive to reposition the Commission and ensure its smooth operations. It commended the Director–General and the Commission for their contributions to the success of the meeting.”
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