South South: Land Of Limitless Opportunities

AS leaders of the South-South geo-political region of the country converge in Asaba, Delta State, for a historic economic summit, it has remained incontrovertibly clear that the oil and gas from the zone has remained the bedrock of the nation’s economy. The summit, therefore, presents a credible platform for private sector- driven investment and key partnership.
Beyond oil and gas, the region has all the natural endowment for a leadership position in mechanized and commercial agriculture that will improve on Nigeria’s quest for food security. Delta State has shown a leading light in this respect with the strategic partnership with Obasanjo Farms Limited. The region needs to work out robust and viable partnership with private sector interests to adequately tap the growing opportunities in agriculture and agro-allied industrialization .
There is, no doubt, that regional integration has become a critical option in sustainable economic development of nations . The states of the South West recently came up with the region’s development blueprint. The leadership of the North has also been speaking of late especially with respect to derivation and revenue sharing formula. The Asaba summit of the South South states provides a veritable opportunity for a clarification of the position of the region on its economic direction in the light of the emerging realities and development imperatives in the nation.
Also on focus are deliberations on how improved infrastructural provision in the region can improve economic activities through private sector investment that can usher in the much-needed employment generation and wealth creation.
Security is also on the front-burner in the on-going summit. Emerging from the crises of militancy and youth restiveness, the South South region currently constitutes the most peaceful in the country. The imperatives of improving on this record is, on its own, a daunting challenge worth deliberating. Peace remains a critical and integral index in development.
People of the South South are looking forward to a successful summit. Beyond the immediate gains of the summit, people of the region are full of expectations on long lasting gains in tourism, economic diversification, agricultural development, security and infrastructure, especially in the areas of transportation, education and improved health services for the people. Indeed, the South South remains Nigeria’s land of limitless opportunities.