By Saidu Adamu, Taraba
The North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has raised alarm over what it calls “daunting humanitarian and infrastructural challenges” ravaging the North East subregion of the country.
In a communique issued on Saturday at the end of the forum’s 12th meeting in Jalingo, Taraba State, and signed by the Chairman of the forum and governor of Borno State Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the forum noted that there has been remarkable improvement in terms of security following massive onslaught on insurgency.
The forum also express serious concern over the high cost of farm inputs saying that it could lead to food insecurity in the near future.
The communique reads in parts that “the North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF), comprising the Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States, held its 12th meeting in Jalingo, Taraba State. It continues to appreciate the level of cooperation and collaboration among member states in the subregion. It thus, recommit itself to the pursuit of 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.
“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.
“Forum took into cognizance the forecast of the credible agencies on climate risk and the impending flood disaster in the subregion. It therefore calls for proactive measures in confronting the flood and robust sensitization of settlers along the flood plains. It also called for support from both Federal Government and NEDC to reconstruct the broken infrastructure especially bridges by the flood.
“Forum decries 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. 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 Master plan.
“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”
Earlier the Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas urged the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to expedite actions to fix the collapsed Namnai Bridge in Gassol Local Government area of the State that was washed away by flood waters last year.
He commended the unity of the diverse people of the region and reiterated that the region can only thrive and remain relevant by standing together in both good and bad times.
