SouthWest Governors Pick Ibadan As SWDC Headquarters
The six governors in the South West part of Nigeria have unanimously agreed to make Cocoa House, Ibadan, Oyo State the operational headquarters of the newly created South West Development Commission (SWDC).
The governors at a special meeting in Lagos appraised the reforms being undertaken by the Federal Government to reposition the country, saying it had earned President Bola Tinubu a vote of confidence
The Governors lauded the present administration, noting that the country had returned to the path of economic stability as a result of the outcome of the economic reforms.
The meeting, presided over by the Forum’s chairman, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was held at the State House in Alausa, Ikeja and lasted for more than four hours.
In attendance were Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Biodun Oyebaniji (Ekiti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).
The South West Governors also resolved to establish a Joint Surveillance and Monitoring Team to coordinate security operations across the region.
The move, they said, was a direct response to the emerging threats of Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other criminal groups whose activities are inimical to the peace and stability of the Southwest.
Sanwo-Olu, while reading the communique, said the Governors unanimously passed a confidence vote on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the economic stability and improvements recorded across the nation, particularly in the sustained supply and distribution of petroleum products and the stabilisation of the exchange rate.
The Forum applauded the Tinubu-led administration for the successful implementation of the student loan scheme through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), pointing out that the scheme had benefited students in tertiary institutions.
Sanwo-Olu said: “The Forum commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the economic stability and improvements recorded across the nation, particularly in the sustained supply and distribution of petroleum products and the stabilisation of the exchange rate. The Forum urges citizens to continue supporting the President’s efforts to strengthen the economy and improve the overall well-being of Nigerians.
We also applaud the Federal Government for the successful implementation of the Student Loan Scheme under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has benefited South West students in tertiary institutions. It encourages all eligible students in the region to take full advantage of this initiative to access higher education, vocational training, and skills acquisition programmes.”
The Forum commended the member States for regional efforts to foster peace and security, but called for more vigilance to proactively address the potential threat posed by subversive activities of criminal groups bent on causing instability in the region.
Sanwo-Olu said the Forum remained committed to taking necessary measures to counter any form of threats that could threaten peace in the region.
