Communique issued on South-East Governors’ forum meeting

AGREEMENTS:

1. 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.

2. 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;

3. 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.

4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. The next Executive Committee meeting of the South East Traditional institution shall be hosted by Ebonyi State.