Nigeria’s North East Governors’ Forum, NEGF, at it’s 9th meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, reaffirmed its commitment to foster a common ground and pursue collective course on matters of security, social and economic integration of the region.
The Forum expressed delight at the growing strength of cooperation and collaboration among member states.
It reiterated the need for sub-regional 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.
The Forum noted that Climate Change and Environmental degradation were still major issues affecting the subregion.
It therefore resolved to strengthen its collaboration with all initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and the Global Initiative of Carbon Credit financing.
Regional Trade Fair
The Forum appreciated, the readiness of the Bauchi State Goverment to host the North East Regional Trade Fair between 26th February – 3rd March, 2024.
Base on this, the Forum called on all the subnational entities within the region to actively participate in the fair.
It also invited Africa and the world to come and experience the rich culture, tourism potentials, hospitality, and economic opportunities that abound in the region.
On education the Forum appraised the compliance of the states with the decision earlier taken in Maiduguri to domesticate the Education Law 2022, as recommended by the Northeast Education Council, thereby calling on states that are yet to domesticate the Law to do so as a matter of strategic regional integration.
Security
Although the security situation is improving positively in the region, the
Forum stressed the need for more collaboration among member states in the design of the security achitecteure for the region.
It thus, resolved to work more with the security agencies to have a common security roadmap for the North East.
With the intention of enhancing robust platform for regional economic development, the Northeast governors resolved to work as an entity in strengthening the human capacity and socio-economic development of its people.
Infrastructure
infrastructure, the NEGF said it is more concerned that the Federal roads within and between the states in the region have been neglected, calling on the Federal Ministry of Works to follow through with road contracts awarded in the region.
According to it, Poor road network is fuelling insecurity and stalling development and making life more difficult for the people in the region.
It noted that the contractual encumberances on some of the bad federal roads within and between the States are major setbacks to the infrastructural development of the region.
It commit to work with the Federal Ministry of Works to remove the emcumberances and find more practical ways to intervene on these roads.
On the issue of poor energy situation in the region and to mitigate the situation, NEGF resolved to work with Shanghai Electric to construct 60 MW Coal Power Plant or 50 MW Solar Power Plant in each State of the region.
The Forum notes with dismay the poor rail system in the region and that the repairs on the old gauge rail lines is not useful and sustainable technology.
It 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 conspiciously missing.
The North East Governors’ Forum, which has Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, as it’s Chairman, comprising the Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States.
Meanwhile the Forum resolved to hold its 10th Meeting in Bauchi between 23rd February – 26th March, 2024.
Confidence Okwuchi
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