[size=14pt]Jonathan, Others Set for South-south Economic Summit[/size]
19 Mar 2012
By Goddy Egene

President Goodluck Jonathan will declare open the second South-south Economic Summit scheduled for Asaba next month, a Presidency source confirmed last night. This also was corroborated by the Director-General of BRACED Commission, Ambassador Joe Keshi. BRACED is an acronym for Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta States which functions as the secretariat of the South-south states.

This second summit is coming three years after the first one, held in 2009 in Calabar, which did not seem to have made any sustainable impact on the investment potentials of the region.

The hopes raised by the idea of that summit have remained in animated suspense.

However, the theme of the impending summit slated for April 26-28th is ‘Development, Investment and Security’.

“When put together, we are saying that the South-south is ready for investment. We want to tell the world that the South-south is developing but within the context of that development is also the realisation that the South-south is potentially an investment haven. For those around the world and within the country who are looking for areas of investment, they can do so in oil and gas, agro-business among others. There is virtually nothing you cannot produce in large quantity in the South-south,” Keshi told journalists at the weekend.

He said the summit would attract presidents, offshore investors, global business leaders as well as indigenous investors and ministers, especially ministers from the South-south zone.

To demonstrate the seriousness and commitment of the commission towards delivering a world class summit, the BRACED Commission at the weekend, formally launched a new website solely dedicated to the summit.

The South-south is the economic life wire of the nation being the sole producer of the country’ crude oil. With the recent passage of a N4.8 trillion 2012 budget at a benchmark of $72 per barrel of oil, the full implementation of this budget will depend largely on the socio-political stability of the South-south which as recent as 2006 was a major flashpoint. The summit, therefore, in addition to building synergy within the region, would also seek ways of sustaining peace in the region.

According to Keshi: “We are focussing on regional integration and economic development, the type that is capable of producing jobs for the people of the zone and by extension for the larger Nigerian populace.

“There is something you must understand about labour; if any part of the country is developed, there would be substantial migration of labour towards that area as we have in Lagos today. Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria but we need to create more commercial centres and cities in the country. The South-south has up to two or three areas that you can call commercial cities. Our strategy is to create the conditions that would help these cities realise their full potentials as commercial hubs.”

Given the way the South-south is growing, he projected that “in the next 15 to 20 years, the zone can create the number of jobs and opportunities that would help banish poverty from the region and the country at large. Very soon, people would start migrating to the South-south because of the opportunities which would be created from the socio-economic integration of the zone”.

While fielding questions from journalists shortly after the launch of the summit website, Keshi said: “Today, the South-south is very much united politically. Socially, they are contiguous. When you consider that one state sprang from another, you will understand the close ties that bind them. Initially, they were part of Eastern Nigeria; later you had Mid-Western Nigeria and later Bendel State on the one hand and Cross River and Rivers State on the other. Both of them further split to form Edo and Delta and Cross River and Akwa Ibom, while Bayelsa was carved out of the old Rivers State. If you take a tour of these states, you will discover how contiguous they really are. We are leveraging on this affinity to create an economic super power. We want to dismantle the dividing walls and allow free movement of goods, labour and services within this region. Already, the governors have decided that if you are from the South-south and you school in any university in the South-south, you pay the same school fees. These are some of the policies that would make the co-operation work.”

The director general said there were many areas of investment. He cited oil and gas, agriculture, transport as major investment opportunities.

“At their last meeting, the governors of the zone mooted the idea of an integrated power grid for the region. Four states are already working on it and the remaining two states are on the verge of buying into it. When fully implemented, the zone would have taken care of the power problem that has kept investors away for too long,” he said.

According to him, “At the BRACED Commission, we have set the stage at a meeting with the commissioners on the need for an inter-modular transport system for the region. The railway is very key. I have talked to my friends in the South-west who are doing the same on the feasibility of linking up these railway systems. For instance, linking the railway from Lagos to Calabar through the East would facilitate movement of goods from the South-west to the South-south. The three zones will now have to compel the Federal Government to make this work.”

He said the South-south governors were working to ensure that each state becomes a leader in the production of palm oil produce, cassava, rice and cocoa.

But noble as the idea is, some people have expressed concern over the commitment of the state governments to powering the idea to blossom. Many fear that too often political dynamics stall the progress on the essence of the summit. But the involvement of President Jonathan this time is likely to inject greater energy to realising the goals of the summit.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/jonathan-others-set-for-south-south-economic-summit/111758/

BRACED! No doubt, a new majority has emerged!! It is evident that the Nigerian Presidency is an empowerement stool, a podium, so to speak, from which a people relegated to marginal relevance can rise into majority and participate in mainstream politics. This is not your normal model of democracy, lol!

Dudu_Negro: BRACED! No doubt, a new majority has emerged!! It is evident that the Nigerian Presidency is an empowerement stool, a podium, so to speak, from which a people relegated to marginal relevance can rise into majority and participate in mainstream politics. This is not your normal model of democracy, lol!

The majority and minority shiit you guys like talking about does not pay the nations bills, neither does giving birth like an industrial plant generate jobs.
Get a life, you're boring.

it is the most stupid thing to do. You see, calling delta state or edo state south south have destroy the economy of both state. Even it has destroy the economy of cross river state. tinapa.

If you look at the satellite picture of nigeria. there is noway, delta state can ever make progress by calling itself south south. delta state will never make program to be part of south south. the number of creek between delta state and river state is nearly 30 creek. So it will never bring development to delta state to be part of south south. it is only a fool that think so.

there is no business that can take place between delta state and river state geographically. Or delta state and Akwa Ibom geographically. Or delta state and delta state and cross river state geographically. And there is No business that can take place between edo state and river state geographically, or edo state and Akwa Ibom geographically. edo state and cross river state geographically.

There is no economically tie between delta state and Edo state with this state. it will be stupid and foolish to have economic tie with them. The only tie is Atlantic ocean.

let me give you example. look at this map.

It is only a fool, that believe that Plateau state can be in the same zone with kwara state. And only a fool that believe that delta state can be in the same zone with river state. Only fools believe in things like that.

It is more economical for river state to do business with abia state than delta state. It is only a fool that think otherwise. Kwara state and kogi state are part of the western Niger

Only $0 business that can take place between delta state and river state.

but more business can take place between Abia state and River state or Imo and bayelsa state.

to show you the level of stupidity of some of this people. there is what we call Independent event and mutually exclusive event‎

Edo and delta state are what to river state, akwa ibom or cross river , bayelsa. They are Independent event but they are not mutually exclusive event‎, so it makes economy tie impossible, and equal to zero. I mean $0 between the states.

Y

musiwa.:
there is no business that can take place between delta state and river state geographically. Or delta state and Akwa Ibom geographically. Or delta state and delta state and cross river state geographically. And there is No business that can take place between edo state and river state geographically, or edo state and Akwa Ibom geographically. edo state and cross river state geographically.

There is no economically tie between delta state and Edo state with this state. it will be stupid and foolish to have economic tie with them. The only tie is Atlantic ocean.

let me give you example. look at this map.

It is only a fool, that believe that Plateau state can be in the same zone with kwara state. And only a fool that believe that delta state can be in the same zone with river state. Only fools believe in things like that.

It is more economical for river state to do business with abia state than delta state. It is only a fool that think otherwise. Kwara state and kogi state are part of the western Niger

musiwa.:
there is no business that can take place between delta state and river state geographically. Or delta state and Akwa Ibom geographically. Or delta state and delta state and cross river state geographically. And there is No business that can take place between edo state and river state geographically, or edo state and Akwa Ibom geographically. edo state and cross river state geographically.

There is no economically tie between delta state and Edo state with this state. it will be stupid and foolish to have economic tie with them. The only tie is Atlantic ocean.

let me give you example. look at this map.

It is only a fool, that believe that Plateau state can be in the same zone with kwara state. And only a fool that believe that delta state can be in the same zone with river state. Only fools believe in things like that.

It is more economical for river state to do business with abia state than delta state. It is only a fool that think otherwise. Kwara state and kogi state are part of the western Niger

"The only tie is the Atlantic ocean"

"The only tie is the Atlantic ocean"

Kabiesi Musiwa the Arubiefin the 2nd,Ayaworangbade ukuapolopolo!
Lol
Why are you against BRACED?

Spiritmask, i know i sounded rude, i am sorry, for using the word fool. But I get irritated when I hear of south south or niger delta that Asari dokobu created. You can imagine educated elite bring themself so low to the level of Asari dokubo. It is really irritating.

Now If Jonathan Goodluck is honest about bringing development to his ijaw people. He can not continue to shout south south or niger delta. Look there is no way to create a horizontal economy in that area because of the Atlantic ocean. It is only vertical economy, you can create. I dont want to care what happen during the civil war. I dont want to hear story.

it is not the best interest of the ijaw people to create an economy zone for themself call the south south. because they are so small from satellite pictures. they are only destroy business for them self.

And look you are only destroying business for delta state. Now take example the business flow between ondo state and delta state is more than 2 billion naira. While the business flow from delta to rivers is zero naira. Now which zone do you think Delta state should be. Is it in the western Niger or imagine south south.

Even if they break up nigeria. they can never create the south south because it is not in the economy interest of the Igbo people to create the south south. So the igbos will block the creation of a south south country. And it is not in the economy interest of the Yoruba people too. And it is not in the economy interest of the hausa to have 6 zones. So the 3 major tribe which have 65% of the national assembly will block it.
So why waste your time. I think, we should look at what is possible and stop playing games with peoples life.

We should talk about what is economical benefiting to the people. this is not economically benefiting. A vertical trade is the best. it even better for Ijaws to say their mind than trying to create a zone using media. why irritate majority of Nigerians.

I am sorry I was rude Spiritmask before. But people should stop bringing them self low to the level of asari dokubo.. He did not finish school I read. You even find people who are suppose to be educated in the media bringing them self to asari dokubo level. it is irritating.

It is more best for the ijaw people to be the terminal point of a vertical economy than be a drive through path of an economy, the only way bayelsa can develop is to take business away from port harcourt. And not to try to be friends with port harcourt.

Dudu_Negro: BRACED! No doubt, a new majority has emerged!! It is evident that the Nigerian Presidency is an empowerement stool, a podium, so to speak, from which a people relegated to marginal relevance can rise into majority and participate in mainstream politics. This is not your normal model of democracy, lol!

YOU CAN CRY FOUL. THE JOURNEY HAS JUST BEGUN.

Musiwa is it that you didn't read the article well or your just simpleminded? FYI nigerdelta/southsouth is not an Asari dokubo creation.

Musiwa I think you made some very strong points on this thread. I never even thought about some of your observations about the economic relationships between some states in "SS". Your only mistake is the economic relationship between Delta and Anambra. If the Asaba airport starts full operations, and the Onitsha river port starts too, there will be more economic relationship between Anambra and Delta, than between Delta and Ondo.
All other things you said is spot on.