Seventeen governors from the Southern part of Nigeria will meet in Lagos on Monday to discuss devolution of powers and how to forge stronger ties among states in the region.

Twelve years after their last gathering, Governors from the Southern part of Nigeria will on Monday converge in Lagos to deliberate on how to forge stronger ties for the three geo-political zones.

The meeting which will be co-hosted by the Governors of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode and Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom will address issues that are germane to the development of the three contiguous zones.

According to Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Tunji Bello, the Governors would also be expected to adopt a common position on the issues of armed robbery, kidnapping, devolution of powers and issue of fiscal federalism which have all gained prominence of late.

Bello said the meeting was in line with the realisation that the different states in the South have since 2005 developed several areas of comparative advantage which could be harnessed and become mutually beneficial.

He added that the governors would also adopt a common position on the issues of armed robbery, kidnapping, and issue of fiscal federalism among others, which have all gained prominence of late.

“The 2017 Lagos summit of the 17 Southern Governors representing the South South, South West, and South East zones is expected to come up with a communiqué after the deliberation.

“It is noteworthy to recall that the inaugural meeting of the Southern Governors took place in Lagos in 2001 under the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the SSG said.

The statement added that the predominance of views is that if the Southern States speak with one voice, they are bound to attract weighty and credible listenership.

The 17 governors expected at the summit include Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), and Rochas Okorocha (Imo).

Others are Willie Obiano (Anambra), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti), and Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos).