South-West Governors on Monday agreed to strengthen regional integration as pathway to the economic development of the region.
Their decisions are contained in a communique issued after a one-day meeting in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
The leaders also resolved to develop a 25-year development master plan for the transformation of the entire region.
They agreed to eliminate all artificial barriers that mitigate against co-operation, synergy and benefits of economies of scale within the region.
The governors agreed to pay less attention to their political and religious affiliations and make the aggregate welfare of the Yoruba people their priorities.
The forum, which resolved that it would henceforth be known and called ”Western Nigeria Governors’ Forum,” also declared the region a ”zero tolerance area” for crime.
They agreed to develop a revenue optimisation strategy for constituent states of the region, noting that the prosperity of any of the states would be negated if the other states were poor.
The leaders agreed to set up a committee to codify the values and ethics of the Yoruba people as part of efforts to preserve the uniqueness of the people of the region.
Lagos was given the nod to host the next meeting of the forum.
The meeting was attended by Governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and the host, Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun).
