By Charles Suru
Governors of the six North-East states have called for sustained Federal Government intervention in infrastructure, energy, education, security and economic development to accelerate the region’s recovery and integration.
Key Highlights
- North-East governors seek stronger federal intervention in infrastructure, energy and security.
- The Forum called for renewed action on stalled oil exploration in Borno State.
- Governors backed expanded solar power, mini-grids and the Mambilla Hydropower Project.
- States plan more CNG and LNG stations and support regional air and electric transport.
- The Forum reaffirmed intelligence sharing and coordinated security operations.
- It called for investment in education, skills training and employment.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 13th meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF), held in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Saturday.
The meeting was chaired by Borno State Governor and Forum Chairman, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum. Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, Gombe Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, and the deputy governors of Bauchi and Yobe states, Auwal Jatau and Idi Barde Gubana, also attended.
The Forum said the six states had recorded significant progress in regional cooperation since its inauguration in Gombe in March 2020, particularly through collective advocacy on infrastructure, energy, security and economic development.
The governors commended the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for renewed attention to the Port Harcourt-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Maiduguri rail corridor, the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri highway and oil exploration at the Kolmani field.
They urged the Federal Government to revisit oil exploration activities that began earlier but later stalled in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of Borno State.
Governors call for more energy projects
On electricity, the Forum said member states had transformed energy from an individual state concern into a regional agenda, noting that the Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant was supplying electricity to the national grid.
The governors encouraged states in the region to use the new electricity law and the North-East’s abundant sunshine to expand solar power and mini-grid projects.
They also called for renewed Federal Government attention to the Mambilla Hydropower Project following the resolution of legal issues surrounding it.
To reduce transportation costs and improve regional logistics, the Forum resolved to partner with Green Ville Energy to establish more compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) stations across the North-East.
The governors welcomed Federal Government support through the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) for 10,000 electric tricycles, 10 electric buses and 300 electric taxis, which are expected to be launched in October. The Forum also resolved to establish a regional air shuttle to facilitate faster movement of people and goods.
Education, security and jobs on regional agenda
The governors acknowledged the NEDC’s interventions and called for increased investment in education. They urged the release of outstanding scholarship awards to indigent students and stronger efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children across the region.
The Forum also called for coordinated support for Tsangaya education and other initiatives aimed at improving access to learning across the North-East.
On security, the governors acknowledged improvements in the fight against insurgency and commended the Armed Forces, other security agencies and residents for their contributions. The Forum said significant humanitarian and infrastructure challenges remained.
The governors reaffirmed their commitment to supporting security agencies through stronger inter-state cooperation, intelligence sharing, community engagement and coordinated responses to emerging threats. They also stressed the need to address socio-economic conditions that could expose young people to recruitment and exploitation by criminal and extremist groups.
Read also:
- Governor Yahaya Calls for Stronger NEGF Delivery Mechanism, Says Region Has Made Progress
- Zulum Urges FG to Resume Oil Exploration in Borno’s Magumeri, Gubio
- Zulum Hosts North East Governors For 13th Forum Meeting In Maiduguri
The governors identified the region’s youthful population as both an opportunity and a responsibility, pledging to strengthen access to quality education, vocational and entrepreneurial training, technology and meaningful employment as part of long-term economic development.
The Forum also expressed concern over environmental degradation caused by deforestation. The governors agreed to partner with the Institute of Forest Research to train forestry experts across the region and strengthen efforts to address environmental challenges.
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