By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri
The North-East Governors Forum (NEGF) on Saturday unveiled an 11-point communique at the end of its 13th regular meeting which took place in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. Floating the North-East Air shuttle was part of the resolutions reached..
The governors unanimously recommitted to speaking with one voice and acting with one purpose on matters of common subregional concerns as they relate to security, social, economic integration and development.
The meeting was Chaired by Professor Babagana Umara Zulum who is also the Chairman of the NEGF and Chief Host.
Present at the meeting were governors Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa state), Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Mohammed Auwal Jatau (Deputy Governor of Bauchi state), representing the governor, and Idi Barde Gubana, Deputy Governor of Yobe state, representing the governor of Yobe state.
Their counterpart from Taraba was absent – and including his deputy.
Also in attendance was the Deputy Governor of Borno state, Umar Usman Kadafur.
Reading out the Communique at the end of their deliberations, Adamawa State Governor, Fintiri, said the Forum continues to appreciate the level of cooperation and collaboration among member-states since its inaugural meeting in Gombe in March 2020.
He said the forum’s role remains a work in progress.
The following communiqué was presented at the end of the meeting:
“Forum notes the tremendous achievements it has made in the last six years, noting that the most significant achievement was the unity of forum members, resulting in the Forum delivering tangible result in the infrastructural development of the subregion.
“Forum appreciates Mr. President for the renewed attention on the Port Harcourt–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe-Maiduguri rail corridor and frontier oil exploration at Kolmani and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Biu–Maiduguri highway.
“Forum however, calls on Federal Government to revisit the exploration activities earlier commenced but subsequently stalled in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of Borno State.
“Forum acknowledges the concerted effort made by member states in providing power and energizing the subregion. It has moved the energy agenda from isolated state concerns to a regional energy agenda. The Dadinkowa hydropower plant now feeds the national grid. It encourages all member states to take advantage of the new electricity law and abundant sunshine to strengthen the electricity needs of the subregion and expanding solar and mini-grid solutions for development.
“Forum reiterates its long-standing concern over the seeming neglect of the Mambila Hydro power plant and call on the Federal Government to take advantage of the recent clearance of the legal encumbrance with the the arbitration ruling on the matter, to expedite action on the completion and take-off of the plant.
“Forum acknowledges the intervention role of the North East Development Commisssion (NEDC), in the Subregion. It calls for more investment in the Education sector, especially the release of the long-awaited scholarship awards to indigent students of the subregion and deploying more resource into the campaign for reducing the burden of out of school children and a coordinated support for the Tsangaya education.
To ease the cost of transportation, strengthen logistics and open the region to more economic activities, Forum agreed to partner with Green Ville Energy to build and provide more CNG and LNG stations within the region.
“Forum equally acknowledges and appreciates the support of the Federal Government through the NEDC in providing 10,000 Electric Tricycles, 10 Electric Buses and 300 Electric Taxes with a view to lessening the burden of transportation, to be launched in October.
“Forum acknowledges the appreciable success recorded in the onslaught against the insurgency in the north- East; the courage and sacrifice of the Armed Forces and other security agencies, the resilience of the people and the commitment of Governments at all levels, but regrets that the subregion is still confronted by daunting humanitarian and infrastructural challenges. Forum thus, reaffirm its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces and other security agencies while strengthening inter-State cooperation, intelligence sharing, community engagement and coordinated responses to emerging threats and at the same time, addressing the underlying socio-economic conditions that can expose the young people to exploitation by criminal and extremist elements.
“Forum acknowledges that the North-East has one of the youngest populations in the country, and this represents both an enormous opportunity and a responsibility.
“Forum Therefore, recommit to equipping the young people with quality education, vocational and entrepreneurial skills, technology and meaningful employment opportunities for a secure and prosperous region where the youth see a future for themselves and have legitimate opportunities to build dignified livelihoods.
“Forum decries the quantum of harm done to the environment through deforestation and agrees to partner with the Institute of Forest Research to train forest experts in the region.
“The next meeting is to hold on 18th – 19th December, 2026 at Gombe, Gombe state”. Fintiri explained on behalf of the NEGF Chairman, Professor Zulum.”
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