Governors in Nigeria’s South-South region have resolved to deepen regional economic integration by pursuing joint infrastructure, investment, maritime and industrialisation projects across the six states.
The decision was reached on Monday at the second meeting of the South-South Governors’ Forum held in Calabar, Cross River State, under the chairmanship of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri.
The governors identified regional rail development, rehabilitation and modernisation of the Calabar, Port Harcourt and Warri seaports, as well as the opportunities presented by the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, as key priorities for the region.
They also agreed to engage the Federal Government on critical regional concerns, particularly infrastructure, environmental development and economic integration, while pledging support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The forum further resolved to institutionalise its activities through quarterly meetings, with Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, scheduled to host the next meeting from November 6 to 8, 2026.
Speaking as host, Cross River Governor and Vice Chairman of the forum, Senator Bassey Otu, said the South-South could become one of Nigeria’s strongest economic blocs if the states overcome fragmentation and work together.
Otu proposed a regional economic corridor linking the Bakassi Deep Seaport in Calabar with the East-West Road and ports in Bayelsa and Delta. He also called for greater value addition to the region’s agricultural resources, particularly through cassava processing and ethanol production.
He urged the governors to adopt a common position on issues including Value Added Tax, oil and gas revenues and the 13 per cent derivation benchmark. Otu also sought the forum’s support for Cross River’s campaign to regain its oil-producing status.
Diri, in his remarks, stressed that the forum must move beyond meetings and communiqués to measurable results. He called for accelerated development of road, rail, air and maritime infrastructure, describing connectivity as critical to the region’s economic transformation.
The Bayelsa governor said the South-South should position itself as Nigeria’s gas-industrial hub, West Africa’s maritime gateway and a leading blue-economy zone.
The governors also linked economic development with security and environmental sustainability, calling for stronger intelligence-sharing and coordinated security operations to protect communities, oil and gas assets and economic corridors across the region.
The meeting signals a renewed attempt by the six South-South states to move from largely individual state-level economic initiatives towards a more coordinated regional development strategy.
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