ADDRESS INSECURITY, OPEN GRAZING BANNED IN OUR AREA — SOUTHERN GOVERNORS FORUM TELLS FG

Reporter : ONYINYECHI CHIJIOBI

The Southern Governors Forum has urged the Federal Government to address Nigerians on the challenges of insecurity and restore the confidence of the people.

The Governors made the call shortly after its meeting held behind closed doors at the Government House, Asaba, Delta State.

Presenting a communiquè on behalf of others, Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, said that the Southern Governors Forum reviwed the situation in the nation and focused on the current security situation, agitations, restructuring, prospect for inter state collaboration and partnership.

Also in the communique, the governors affirmed that the peoples of Southern Nigeria remained committed to the unity of Nigeria on the basis of justice, fairness, equity and peaceful coexistence between and among its people, a focus on the attatinment of shared goals for economic development and prosperity.

The forum observed that the incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits into the southern parts of the country and resolved that open grazing of cattle be banned.

“The meeting noted that development and population growth has put pressure on available land and increased the prospects of conflict between migrating herders and local populations in the South. Given this scenario, it becomes imperative to enforce the ban on open grazing in the South (including
cattle movement to the South by foot.”

It also resolved that the Federal Government should support willing states to develop alternative and morden livestock management systems.

The meeting agreed that the progress of the nation required that urgent and bold steps be taken to restructure the Nigerian federation leading to the evolution of state police, review of revenue allocation formular in favour of the sub national goverment and creation of other institutions, which legitimately advance their commitments and practice of true federalism.

Similarly, the communiqué noted that the principle of federal character had been largely neglected by the present federal government, especially in political appointments.

“It recommended that in deference to the sensitivities of our
various peoples, there is need to review appointments into Federal
Government Agencies (including Security Agencies) to reflect federal character as Nigeria’s overall
population is heterogenous.”

It recommended that in view of widespread agitations among various people for greater inclusiveness in existing governance arrangements, as well as convoke the national dialogue as a matter of urgency.

The meeting expressed concren on the continued gridlock on the Oshodi-Apapa expressway, which had impacted negatively on the nation’s economy being the sole outlet from Apapa Wharf and recommended the activation and establishment of ports in other states of the federation to create new jobs and promote social economic activities in the country.

The Southern Governors further resolved to foster cooperation among the southern states and the nation at large.

“It resolved to foster cooperation among the Southern States
and the nation at large. In this connection, Secretaries to
the Governments of the Southern States are to work together to develop and institutionalize a mechanism to foster this cooperation which will advance the comparative economic advantages and other interests of the Southern
States.”

Radio Nigeria observed that governors of the South East, South West and South South attended the meeting.