By Citizenship Newspaper
The North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has concluded its 12th meeting in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital with regrets over decay of infrastructure in the subregion.
The NEGF also resolved to float a subregional power masterplan to address incessant power failure that undermines economic activities in the states.
These decisions were part of the communique issued on Saturday (today) at the end of the 12th Meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) held in Jalingo, Taraba State.
The communique was signed by Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, mni, FNSE,
Chairman NEGF and Governor of Borno State.
The Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States attended the meeting.
According to the communique, the Forum acknowledges the appreciable success recorded in the onslaught against the insurgency in the North-East, but regrets that the subregion is still confronted by daunting humanitarian and infrastructural challenges.
It added: “While building on the early commitment of exploring solar option as a low hanging fruit, Forum recommits to subduing energy poverty by tasking the Committee on Power and Energy in the subregion to come up with an integrated subregional power Masterplan.”
The forum said it took into cognizance the forecast of the credible agencies on climate risk and the impending flood disaster in the subregion, and called for proactive measures in confronting the flood and robust sensitization of settlers along the flood plains.
It also called for support from both the Federal Government and NEDC to reconstruct the broken infrastructure, especially bridges, by the flood.
Part of the decisions reached, according to the communique include the following:
“The forum decries the high cost of Agricultural inputs which might have direct negative consequences on farm outputs next year. To avert impending food crises ahead, it calls for more subsidies to farmers and robust preparation for dry season farming.
“Forum agrees to hold the North East Trade fair in partnership with NECCIMA, in Maiduguri, Borno state, December, 2025.
“Forum congratulates the University of Maiduguri which is a legacy University in the subregion for its golden jubilee. It also expresses its willingness to support the 50th anniversary celebration and the re-launch of the University Endowment Fund coming up in November, 2025
“The next meeting is to hold in Maiduguri between 12th-14th December, 2025. “
Meanwhile, the NEGF said it will continue to appreciate the level of cooperation and collaboration among member states in the subregion.
It expressed recommitment to pursue common issues of subregional concern and pursuance of collective course on matters that are related to the security, social and economic integration of the subregion.
