Governors of Nigeria’s North-East region have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, improving security, promoting economic integration and accelerating development across the six states of the subregion.
The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum and signed by Borno State Governor and Forum Chairman, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum.
The meeting was attended by the governors of Borno, Adamawa and Gombe states, while Bauchi and Yobe states were represented by their deputy governors. Borno State Deputy Governor, Umar Usman Kadafur, was also in attendance.
The governors noted that since its inauguration in Gombe in March 2020, the Forum has achieved significant progress in fostering unity and presenting a collective voice on issues affecting the region.
They commended the Federal Government for renewed attention to key infrastructure projects, including the Port Harcourt-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Maiduguri rail corridor, frontier oil exploration at Kolmani and the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri highway.
However, the Forum called for the resumption of oil exploration activities in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of Borno State, which were previously initiated but later stalled.
On energy development, the governors highlighted progress made under the regional energy agenda, noting that the Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant now contributes electricity to the national grid. They urged member states to leverage the new Electricity Act and the region’s abundant solar resources to expand renewable energy through solar and mini-grid projects.
The Forum also renewed its appeal for the Federal Government to expedite work on the Mambila Hydropower Project following the resolution of legal disputes surrounding the initiative.
In the education sector, the governors acknowledged interventions by the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) and called for increased investment in education, including the release of outstanding scholarship awards for indigent students. They also advocated stronger measures to reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve support for Tsangaya education.
To address transportation challenges, the Forum resolved to collaborate with Green Ville Energy to establish additional Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) stations across the region.
The governors further welcomed Federal Government support through the NEDC for the provision of 10,000 electric tricycles, 10 electric buses and 300 electric taxis, which are expected to be launched later this month.
As part of efforts to improve connectivity, the Forum approved plans to establish a regional air shuttle service to facilitate the movement of people and goods across the North-East.
On security, the governors praised the Armed Forces, security agencies and residents of the region for their resilience and contributions to the fight against insurgency. They also pledged to continue addressing socio-economic challenges that could expose youths to exploitation by criminal and extremist groups.
The Forum underscored the importance of youth empowerment, pledging to expand opportunities in education, entrepreneurship, vocational training, technology and employment to support sustainable livelihoods and regional growth.
The next meeting of the Forum is scheduled to hold in Gombe State on December 18 and 19, 2026.
