Governors of the northeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, have expressed concern over the seeming neglect of the region in the allocation of Federal Government Capital Projects.
It noted with dismay that despite its cry for attention on the State of infrastructure in the region which has been consistently echoed in all its communiques over the years, especially the poor road and railway infrastructure along the economic corridors that link the region to the rest of the country, nothing serious seems to be happening.
The governor who made this known in a communique shortly after their forum which took place in Bauchi state, said the road from Enugu to Maiduguri is in a deplorable State and the railway from Enugu up to Maiduguri has been destroyed.
Stressing that “this is a major route for regional trade and very important for integration, peace building and improving national unity”, the region, according to them, is also not included in the National Infrastructure Plan for the transition from PMS to Compressed Gas.
Signed by the chairman of the forum, who doubles as the Borno state governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Forum called on the Federal Government to look into the situation and consider the reconstruction of these basic infrastructure along the Enugu-Maiduguri Economic Corridor and inclusion of the region in all National Development Plans and initiatives.
They also noticed with dismay, the blackout experienced presently bedevilling for the last one month and the alleged nonchalant attitude exhibited by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in addressing this issue of National importance for the security and development of the country.
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The six governors who announced that they are watching keenly the commitment made by TCN to restore power to all the states of the region by the 27th of May, 2024; accordingly, urged the Federal Government to direct TCN to take immediate action” stating that, the Forum has resolved in the short term, to set up a solar power plant that can generate a minimum 10 Megawatts per State.
The Forum, as observed in the communique, also noted with deep concern that the Northeast, is the only region in Nigeria that has one transmission line supplying six states with a land mass of nearly 300 km square and a population of over 35 million.
This, they said, has made the region the most vulnerable and most disadvantaged for industrial development and economic growth with over 70% of its population below 35 years of age.
They beckoned at the Minister of Power and indeed the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency implement the extension of the 330KV transmission line from Makurdi – Gassol – Jalingo linking to Adamawa – Gombe – Bauchi and the extension of the 330KV line from Kano- Bauchi- Yobe, linking to Borno.
The governors were also observed to have resolved to maximise the existing hydropower generated in Kashimbilla and Dadin Kowa dam which the region has not been benefitting from because of the Ministry of Power has failed to extend the 330KV line of Makurdi – Gassol- Jalingo line.
While reaffirming their commitments to strengthening the partnership of member states with the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF) on investing in sustainability for improved Water and Sanitation Coverage (WASH) in the region, they noticed that climate change and environmental degradation remain a reality in the region.
