Southwest Govs’ Forum Elects New Chairman

By Hammed Tajudeen, Osogbo

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been elected as the Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum.

Sanwo-Olu’s election took place during a closed-door meeting in Lagos on Monday, which was attended by all six governors from the South West states.

He succeeded the late Ondo State governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who served as the forum’s chairman until his passing on December 27, 2023…

Speaking on the meeting, Sanwo-Olu said “Today, we honor the memory of our late Chairman, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu, SAN, CON, may his soul rest in peace.

“During our discussions on various issues affecting our states, we reached the following resolutions:

“We are grateful to the House of Representatives and South West Caucus for their efforts on the South West Development Commission Bill and urge the Senate to expedite its passage.

“We commend Mr. President, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project and other initiatives, and we call for further road rehabilitation by the Federal Government.

“On the matter of security, we are pleased with the peace in the South West and advocate for the establishment of State Police. Collaboration between security agencies and the Amotekun Corps is very important.

“We stand united in supporting ongoing discussions on the Minimum Wage, with an expectation of fair outcomes that reflect fiscal federalism.

“We endorse the Federal Government’s efforts on mineral resources and urge increased collaboration with states in granting leases to investors.

“We have agreed to bolster the efficiency of the DAWN Commission, with a focus on economic integration.

“These decisions and more are aimed at advancing the development and prosperity of our South West States.”