…Proposes SSDA to foster trade, economic prosperity
…As Gov Abiodun emerges new chairman of Southern Governor’s Forum
Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
Governors of southern region have concluded plans to embark on intensive agriculture and food security scheme to tackle food shortage particularly tomatoes and peppers and the increase in the prices of other food commodities in the region in order to reduce supply shocks from the north.
The governors under the auspices of Southern Governor’s Forum equally proposed to set up a Southern States Development Agenda (SSDA) which will comprise a team saddled with the responsibility of outlining holistic plan to foster trade and investment promotion, sustainable growth, and development, economic prosperity social harmony, and food security to make the southern states better.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting on Monday, held at Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, where the State Governor Dapo Abiodun, was nominated new chairman of the forum alongside Prof Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, as the Vice Chairman respectively, the governors mentioned security, transportation, mineral resources, federal appointments, including agriculture and food security as factors needed for the growth and development of the region
They said that it was high time the south engaged on agressive agricultural production and food security plan with each state growing what is best suited for them based on their competitive and comparative advantages inorder to save the region from hunger and skyrocketed increase in the prices of food commodities to combat food shortage and not to relent on the north for supply.
Governors present at the meeting included Babajide Sanwo-Olu(Lagos State); Seyi Makinde(Oyo State); Duoye Diri(Bayelsa State); Godwin Obaseki (Edo State); Ademola Adeleke(Osun State); ABiodun Oyebani (Ekiti State); Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra State) Peter Mbah(Enugu State); Alex Otti(Abia State) Francis Nwifuru( Ebonyi State) among others.
They said that the south could no longer depend on the north for its food supply to the region hence the need to establish agro-processing zones to extract the most value from the Agro value chain that would provide job opportunities for people in the south as well as deliberating about promoting inter-zonal trade amongst member states to strengthen the region’s economy.
The governors wondered why the south with the agrarian region and eight million hectares of fertile land for both food and cash crops including cocoa, oil palm, cashew, cotton, to mention few, the region still depend food supply especially common food items like tomatoes, peppers, onions, rice as well as cattle from the north region with only Lagos State receiving about I billion worth of tomatoes and peppers from the north on daily basis.
The communique partly read ” AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY We are an agrarian region with almost 8 million hectares of land that are fertile for both food and cash crops (cocoa, oil palm, cashew, cotton, etc.) Today, we are reliant on tomatoes, onions, rice, and cattle from Northern Nigeria. It is estimated that about 1 billion naira worth of tomatoes and peppers come from the North to Lagos daily (approx. 30 Billion naira monthly) and tens of thousands of cattle per day.
“In recent times, supply shocks from the North have caused serious food shortages and price hikes in the South.We need to embark on an aggressive and intensive Agriculture and food security plan with each state growing what is best suited for them based on their competitive and comparative advantages.”
“We must each also consider establishing agro-processing zones to extract the most value from the Agro value chain which will provide the much-needed job opportunities for our people. We must be deliberate about promoting inter-zonal trade amongst member states to strengthen the region’s economy. Our mills have no business relying on inputs from outside the region.”
Governor Abiodun, while speaking as new chairman of the Southern Governor’s Forum shortly after being announced by Governor Sanwo-Olu, expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in him to take the mantle of leadership of the forum, as he promised to lead with inclusiveness and efficiency.
He noted that he would work committedly with his Vice, Professor Charles Soludo, who is the Governor of Anambra State to proactively address fundamental issues of regional interests.
“This is indeed a significant honour bestowed on me by my esteemed colleagues, and I deeply appreciate their confidence in my leadership. Together, we will strive to ensure quality governance across our states and collectively engender exceptional regional development throughout Southern Nigeria.
“I also extend my congratulations to my colleague, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, who has been elected as the Vice Chairman,” he added
It would be recalled that the late Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State led the forum until his demise in 2023.
