Lagos- The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the weekend received Monday Okpebholo in Lagos during a Sallah visit that underscored deepening ties between the Federal Government and Edo State, alongside renewed regional collaboration among South-South leaders.

Governor Okpebholo, who paid homage to the President as part of the Sallah celebrations, shared a warm handshake with Tinubu in a meeting widely seen as reinforcing the growing synergy between both administrations. The engagement is part of ongoing efforts by the Edo State Government to strengthen federal-state relations and advance its development priorities under the SHINE agenda.

Discussions during the visit reportedly focused on infrastructure development, economic expansion, and improving the welfare of Edo people. The governor’s sustained engagement with the Presidency highlights a strategic push to align state initiatives with national policies while attracting federal support and investments.

In a related development, governors of the South-South geopolitical zone also met in Lagos under the auspices of the South-South Governors’ Forum to deliberate on issues critical to the Niger Delta region.

The forum, which brings together the chief executives of the six oil-producing states, emphasized the importance of stronger inter-state collaboration, particularly in economic integration, security coordination, and sustainable development. The governors further reaffirmed their commitment to collective engagement with the Federal Government on key regional concerns, including resource management, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure development.

The twin engagements in Lagos reflect a coordinated effort to promote cooperative governance, with stakeholders expressing optimism that strengthened partnerships at both federal and regional levels will accelerate development across Edo State and the wider South-South region.