Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has urged South-South governors to adopt investment strategies that would translate to economic growth and development.
Oshiomhole made the call in Asaba on Thursday at the second South-South Summit organised by the region.
He said that it was necessary because the level of poverty and unemployment was still high in the region and Nigeria at large.
According to him, if this is not adequately addressed in the next few years to come, the police will not be able to guarantee the security of the country.
He called on the governors to go for long time investment opportunity, adding that this would alleviate the poverty level and create employment opportunities for the people.
Oshiomhole also stressed the need for reorientation of the people of the region to create prosperity by developing the economy that was sustainable without oil and gas.
According to him, this will help us to move from the regime of lamentation to the realm of doing things that will attract a lot of development before the next summit.
Oshiomhole also called for a review of the revenue allocation formula, adding that this would help to address some of the challenges faced at the states and local government levels.
Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta appealed to banks to assist South-South governors to finance their macro and micro credit programmes to create employment for the people.
According to him, this will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the people, stressing that there were lots of unemployed youths, who had good ideas but they had no access to fund.
Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Cross-River urged the South-South governors to approach development with “anger. ’’
He said that his administration in the last five years had embarked on 260 road projects.
Akpabio also said that his administration had also put in place measures to tackle the security challenges facing the region.
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