N/East Governors’ Forum presents communique on security, social, economic integration

N/East Governors’ Forum presents communique on security, social, economic integration

The North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF), comprising the Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe
States, held its 9th meeting in Yola, Adamawa State to discuss security, social and economic development of the region.

The meeting, held in Yola, Adamawa State on Saturday, 25th November 2023, was attended by Governor Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Governor Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Governor Babagana Umara Zulum (Borno), Governor Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), and Governor Agbu Kefas (Taraba).

According to a statement by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, Chairman of NEGF, the Forum expressed delight at the growing strength of cooperation and collaboration among member states in the region.

In a Communique presented during the meeting, the Forum reaffirmed its commitment to foster a common ground and pursue collective course on matters of security, social and economic integration of the region.

At the end of the meeting, the Forum presented the following Communique:

1. Forum reiterates the need for subregional integration and resolved that each member state should take up the matter with more seriousness by assigning such responsibility to an appointee with a cabinet status.

2. Forum notes that Climate Change and Environmental degradation are still major issues affecting the subregion. It thus, resolved to strengthen its collaboration with all initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and the Global Initiative of Carbon Credit financing.

3. Forum notes with appreciation, the readiness of the Bauchi State Government to host the North East Regional Trade Fair between 26th February – 3rd March, 2024 and called on all the subnational entities within the region to actively participate in the fair while inviting the nation, Africa and the world to come and experience the rich culture, tourism potentials, hospitality, and economic opportunities that abound in the region.

4. Forum appraised the compliance of the states with the decision earlier taken at the 8th meeting in Maiduguri to domesticate the Education Law 2022, as recommended by the Northeast Education Council. It thus called on states that are yet to domesticate the Law to do so as a matter of strategic regional integration.

5. Forum notes that although the security situation is improving positively in the region, there is need for more collaboration among member states in the design of the security architecture for the region. It thus, resolved to work more with the security agencies to have a common security roadmap for the North East.

6. Forum notes the need for a robust platform for regional economic development. It thus, resolved to work as an entity in strengthening the human capacity and socio-economic development of its people.

7. Forum is continuously disturbed about the poor infrastructural base of the region. More concerned that the Federal roads within and between the states in the region have been neglected. It thus, call on the Federal Ministry of Works to follow through with road contracts awarded in the region. Poor road network is fuelling insecurity and stalling development and making life more difficult for our people in the region.

8. Forum notes that the contractual encumbrances on some of the bad federal roads within and between the States are major setbacks to the infrastructural development of the region. It calls on the NEDC to work with State Governments and the Federal Ministry of Works to remove the encumbrances and find more practical ways to intervene on these roads.

9. Forum notes the poor energy situation in the region. To mitigate the situation, Forum resolved to work with Shanghai Electric to construct a 60 MW Coal Power Plant or 50 MW Solar Power Plant in each State of the region.

10. Forum notes with dismay the poor rail system in the region. It equally notes that the repairs on the old gauge rail lines is not useful and sustainable technology. Forum calls for inclusion of the region into the Nigerian National Railway Transport Plan using the Modern Guage rail and the National Road plan that the region is conspicuously missing.

11. The Forum resolved to hold the 10th Meeting in Bauchi between 23rd February – 26th March, 2024.