South-South Governors Unite: Back Tinubu’s 2027 Bid and Push for Economic Powerhouse

In a strong show of solidarity, the South-South Governors’ Forum (SSGF) has thrown its full weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign for 2027, while aiming to transform the region into Nigeria’s leading economic bloc.

The declaration came during the forum's second meeting in Calabar, led by Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri. The governors emphasized their commitment to economic integration, with plans to enhance rail connectivity, rehabilitate key seaports, and promote industrialization.

Key priorities identified include the development of regional rail networks, upgrades to the Calabar, Port Harcourt, and Warri seaports, and leveraging the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway for economic growth. The governors resolved to hold quarterly meetings, with Uyo slated to host the next gathering from November 6 to 8, 2026.

“Unity is crucial for our development,” said Cross River State Governor Senator Bassey Otu, highlighting the importance of a united front in advocating for the South-South's interests, particularly in fiscal equity issues like Value Added Tax and oil revenues.

Otu also pushed for a regional corridor linking the Bakassi Deep Seaport to the East-West Road, urging a shift from raw resource exploitation to value-added production, especially in cassava processing and ethanol manufacturing.

Diri stressed the need for actionable results from the forum’s resolutions. “We can’t just meet and issue communiqués; we must produce measurable progress,” he insisted.

He envisions the South-South as Nigeria’s gas-industrial hub and West Africa’s maritime gateway, while also addressing the environmental degradation challenges faced by the Niger Delta.

The meeting featured presentations from key stakeholders, including Ambassador Joe Keshi, who discussed regional rail development, and PANDEF National Chairman Ambassador Godknows Igali, who called for a regional investment fund focused on youth-led economic transformation.

Additionally, the governors committed to enhancing security cooperation across the six states to protect oil and gas assets and economic corridors.

On the political front, the forum reaffirmed its “100 per cent” support for Tinubu’s re-election, alongside a broader commitment to advancing the South-South’s economic and developmental interests.

As the region continues to strategize for its future, the unity and proactive measures of the South-South governors signal a determined effort to reshape the economic landscape of Nigeria.