Governors of the seventeen Southern states in Nigeria have called for a national dialogue to restructure the country.
The Southern governors want the Federal Government to initiate the process for their proposed national dialogue and restructuring of the country.
Governors from the South-West, South-East and South-South, took the decision during a meeting at the Delta State Government House in Asaba.
They expressed serious concern over the current security challenge in the country, and called on President Muhammad Buhari to address Nigerians and restore their confidence.
Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who doubles as Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Governors Forum, announced the decisions at the end of their meeting.
Governor Akeredolu said they agreed that bold and urgent steps should be taken to pave way for the creation of state police; allocation of more revenue to states, and promotion of true federalism.
He said the state governors equally called for a review of appointments into Federal Government agencies, including security agencies, to reflect the federal character principle.
Governor Akeredolu said they all affirmed that the peoples of Southern Nigeria remain committed to the unity of the country on the basis of justice, fairness, equity, oneness and peaceful co-existence.
However, Akeredolu said the Southern governors observed that the incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits has prevented citizens in the Southern part of the country from living their normal lives.
He said as a result of the security threats posed by such groups of criminals; the Southern governors resolved that open grazing of cattle be banned across the entire Southern Nigeria.