Urgently Repair Roads, Push for Stronger Regional Cooperation, South West Leaders Charge Tinubu as they Back His Reforms
Leaders of the Southwest region have thrown their weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms, describing them as necessary steps to restore investor confidence and reposition Nigeria’s economy.
The endorsement came during a high-level meeting held in Akure, Ondo State, where governors, political figures, and traditional rulers from the region gathered to assess the state of governance and chart a path for regional progress.
Speaking at the event themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future,” Lagos State Governor and Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration were already beginning to yield positive results.
He noted that policies on fiscal discipline, investment incentives, and economic diversification were “restoring investor confidence and opening a new era for the Southwest.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu, however, acknowledged the economic hardship experienced by Nigerians as a result of the reforms and called for targeted interventions to cushion their effects.
He urged the federal government to prioritise key infrastructure projects in the region, particularly the rehabilitation of major federal roads linking the states.
Other leaders present at the meeting echoed similar concerns, stressing that bad road networks continue to hamper economic activities and movement of goods across the region.
They appealed to the Federal Ministry of Works to accelerate repair works on critical routes such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan-Ilesa Highway, and the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Road.
The gathering also emphasised the importance of stronger cooperation among Southwest states. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the establishment of the South-West Development Commission (SWDC), describing it as a vital framework for collective planning, industrialisation, and resource management.
They called for closer dialogue among state governments to address shared challenges in education, agriculture, and security.
Traditional rulers in attendance also lent their voices to the discussion, commending the federal government’s efforts while urging continuous consultation with regional stakeholders.
The summit concluded with a resolution to sustain inter-state collaboration and promote policies that align with both national economic recovery plans and regional development goals.
The Southwest leaders said their support for President Tinubu’s reform agenda was rooted in optimism that the policies, if properly implemented, would strengthen Nigeria’s economy and bring lasting benefits to citizens across the federation.
