The governors of South-South states, comprising Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta States yesterday signed an agreement for the take-off of regional economic cooperation under the acronym, BRACED.
The agreement was the result of a meeting of the South-South Governor's Council held in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State.
In a communiqué at the end of the meeting Monday night, the chairman of the council and governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, said the six states have agreed to establish a regional electric company and a regional oil and gas company to serve the common interest of the people of the region.
He added that steps were being taken to conduct a feasibility study on the projects.
Mr Imoke also said in a bid to fast track the process, the second South-South Economic Summit would be held at Asaba, Delta State, from October 13th to 15th this year, while a strategic meeting of commissioners of economic development, planning, finance, agriculture, commerce and industry from the states would be convened within 60 days.
The communiqué, which was signed by the five governors present at the meeting, also affirmed the readiness of the states to work out, between now and 2012, an effective mechanism for the re-certification of teachers, as part of efforts to encourage teacher training and improve the quality of education in the area.
Organise training
Mr Imoke said as a way to ensure that all the states operate on the same pedestal, the BRACED commission would organise a retreat for commissioners and top functionaries of government and business community, and for the civil service as well.
"The governors have solicited the cooperation of banks and financial agencies to simplify access to the various agricultural funds available to farmers," he said, adding that a feasibility study is to be undertaken for establishing a Regional Commodity Exchange Board.
Mr Imoke acdded that the commission is working towards institutionalisation of sports competitions among schools in the zone through hosting of regional sports festivals.
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