In a decisive move to drive collective prosperity and deepen regional integration, governors of the South-West states have launched an ambitious 262-page economic development masterplan aimed at transforming the region into a model of coordinated growth, security, and sustainability.

Unveiled on Thursday at the Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan, the blueprint—titled “Plan of Action for the Economic Development of the Region, Nigeria”—outlines a comprehensive strategy to address key sectors including infrastructure, security, agriculture, education, industrialisation, health, and governance.

The high-level summit, hosted by the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries (ARHOSPS), South-West Nigeria, in collaboration with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, brought together representatives of all six South-West governors, senior technocrats, and stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, hailed the initiative as a timely response to economic and security challenges confronting the region. “Regional integration through an interconnected road network will spur development across the South-West,” he said, while affirming the impact of localized security in curbing armed banditry.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, represented by Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi, echoed the need for decentralised security, urging the adoption of state police. “Security is key to development. We support state policing as a practical solution for protecting lives and investments,” he noted, pledging Osun's full alignment with the action plan.

Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo) also expressed strong commitment through their representatives, affirming the plan’s role in shaping a shared and prosperous future for the region.

Regional President of ARHOSPS-SWN, Ebenezer Okebukola, described the economic roadmap as the fruit of years of dedicated collaboration among the region’s most seasoned administrators. “This document reflects our unwavering dedication to our homeland and to the next generation,” he stated.

Director-General of the DAWN Commission, Seye Oyeleye, lauded the blueprint’s detailed vision, calling it “a rich repository of insights and actionable strategies that could serve as a national template.”

With detailed strategies for each state to harmonise policies and collaborate on joint ventures, the plan reflects a rare synergy in Nigerian governance. From power and solid minerals to arts, tourism, and education, it proposes reforms that transcend political lines.

As the South-West leads by example, this masterplan is not only a bold step toward regional prosperity but a clarion call for other zones in Nigeria to chart their own paths to sustainable development through unity, strategic planning, and local empowerment.