By Abdullahi Alhassan
The North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has called on the Federal Government to accelerate the completion of the Mambila Hydropower Project in Taraba State, describing it as critical to the region’s long-term energy development.
The governors made the call in an 11-point communiqué issued in Maiduguri on Saturday after the Forum’s 13th meeting.
The communiqué was signed by the Forum’s Chairman and Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, and read by the Vice Chairman, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
The Forum said it had moved beyond treating electricity as an individual state concern, adopting instead a coordinated regional approach to power generation and distribution.
It urged member states to take advantage of the new electricity law and the region’s abundant solar resources to expand renewable energy projects, including solar systems and mini-grids.
The governors noted that the Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant in Gombe State had commenced feeding electricity into the national grid, describing the development as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen power supply across the sub-region.
On the Mambila project, the Forum expressed concern over the prolonged delay in its development and urged the Federal Government to take advantage of a recent arbitration ruling that reportedly cleared its legal obstacles to facilitate its speedy completion.
The governors also resolved to collaborate with Green Ville Energy on the establishment of additional Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) stations across the region, with the aim of reducing transportation costs.
They commended the Federal Government, through the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), for providing 10,000 electric tricycles, 10 electric buses and 300 electric taxis, which they said were expected to be launched later this month.
The Forum further announced plans to establish a North-East regional air shuttle to improve the movement of people and goods within the region and to other parts of the country.
The governors also commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for renewed attention to the Port Harcourt–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Maiduguri rail corridor, the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Biu–Maiduguri highway and frontier oil exploration at Kolmani.
However, they called for the Federal Government to revisit oil exploration activities that commenced but were subsequently stalled in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of Borno State.
On security, the governors acknowledged what they described as significant progress in the fight against insurgency and commended the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their sacrifices in maintaining peace across the region.
The Forum also reiterated its commitment to addressing youth unemployment by expanding access to quality education, vocational training, entrepreneurship, technology and employment opportunities.
On environmental concerns, the governors expressed alarm over the impact of deforestation and resolved to collaborate with the Forestry Research Institute to strengthen the capacity of forestry professionals across the region.
The meeting was attended by Governors Zulum, Fintiri and Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State.
Bauchi and Yobe states were represented by their Deputy Governors, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau and Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana, respectively, while the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Usman Kadafur, also attended the meeting.
The Forum said unity among its member states remained one of its major achievements since its inaugural meeting in Gombe in March 2020, noting that collective action had strengthened the region’s voice and contributed to infrastructure development.
The 14th meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum is scheduled to hold in Gombe on December 18 and 19, 2026.
