South East Governors have urged the house of assembly in the Five States of the South East to enact laws that will give legal backing to the setting up of a regional security. Here is the Communique at the end of the meeting
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY SOUTH EAST GOVERNORS’ FORUM, AT THE END OF ITS’ MEETING HELD ON SUNDAY, THE 24TH DAY OF MAY, 2020, AT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, LION BUILDING, GOVERNMENT
HOUSE, ENUGU
AGREEMENTS:
- COVID-19:
a. The Forum directed that all Igbos living outside Igbo land do
obey all extant COVID-19 orders, namely; Presidential directive
on inter-State movement, WHO, NCDC hygiene protocols,
Presidential Task Force and directives of South East Governors
and directives of all Governors where they live; and
b. The Forum agreed to further engage the NCDC to scale up
testing of corona virus in the South East States.
- SECURITY:
a. On Community Policing, the recent communication from the
Inspector General of Police to our Governors on Community
Policing composition is not in keeping with the agreement we
reached with him during his last visit to the South East. In the
circumstance, we cannot begin implementation of it until the
programme reflects our earlier agreement. The South East
Governors and their leaders request the IGP to revert to our
initial agreement reached on Community Policing at Enugu;
b. The Forum agreed that all South East States Houses of Assembly
should commence the process of enacting of State Security laws
in line with the South East Joint Security programme.
- REJIGING THE ECONOMY:
a. Meeting agreed to set up committees in our various States work with FGN, World Bank, CBN and NSIA in their various
programmes lined up to rejig the economy. Especially in areas
of Agriculture, SME and solid minerals;
b. Meeting agreed to hold a virtual meeting with the Group MD of
NNPC on the issue of linking our South East State capitals with
gas pipeline alongside with the pipeline programme of Federal
Government of Nigeria, which is running from Imo State to
Lagos State.
- NDI IGBO STABILIZATION FUND:
a. Meeting agreed that Ohaneze do submit a working document in
our next meeting on setting up of South East Stabilization Fund.
- AIRPORT REHABILITATION:
Engr. Chris Okoye, the Chairman, South East Governors Committee
on Akanu Ibiam International Airport Rehabilitation briefed the
Forum on progress of work on the Airport. We commend Mr.
President, Minister of Aviation, the Governor of Enugu State, other
Governors of the South East and the Committee headed by Engr.
Chris Okoye in this respect. We assure our people that with the
progress of work, we are hopeful that the Airport will re-open
soonest, subject to COVID-19 Federal Government Programme.
- SECOND NIGER BRIDGE:
On the second Niger Bridge, we again commend Mr. President, the
Minister of Works and the Governor of Anambra State. We are happy
with the work progress by Julius Berger.
- The next Executive Committee meeting of the South East Traditional institution shall be hosted Ebonyi State.
Signed:
Engr. David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE
Chairman of Southeast Governors Forum / Governor of Ebonyi State.