Beatrice Gondyi, Bauchi
Governors from Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba states have urged a reassessment of strategies in the ongoing battle against insurgency in the region.
The appeal came during the 11th meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF), held on Thursday in Damaturu, Yobe State’s capital. In a communiqué, the governors expressed concern over escalating insurgent activity and called on the armed forces, security agencies, and community leaders to revise their counterinsurgency tactics.
While commending the federal government’s efforts to bolster national security, the forum pledged full collaboration in tackling emerging threats. However, they stressed that a purely military approach is insufficient—lasting solutions must also address root causes such as unemployment, poor infrastructure, education gaps, and poverty.
The governors emphasised the need for vocational training, better road networks, and economic empowerment to deter recruitment by armed groups. They reaffirmed their commitment to both immediate security measures and long-term solutions to stabilise the region.
It also stated that the poor road network in the North-east was contributing to the insecurity in the area.
The governors called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the issue of abandoned project, which was critical to addressing poverty, insecurity and general underdevelopment of the zone.
The forum recommitted itself to the opening up of the sub-region to investment opportunities, agriculture for food security, combating climate change, skills acquisition, and the industrialisation of the zone to provide employment to the youth, who are vulnerable to recruitment into the army of the insurgents.
The communique emphasised the role of the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) in the development of the zone and called on the commission to be more engaging with the various state governments on development needs.
It counselled state governments in the North-east to prioritise transportation infrastructure, education, and health.
The forum equally called on NEDC to rededicate itself to its core mandate of rebuilding the zone after the devastation of insurgency. It said the commission should be more proactive in the delivery of existing projects in the zone by keeping track with project delivery timelines.
The forum stated the significance of the Nigerian Law school, Yola Campus, within the region and resolved to support its expansion by providing additional hostel accommodation, water supply, and other facilities to improve the admission capacity of the campus and make it more conducive for training.
The forum resolved to work closely with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) by providing office space in each state, supporting the enrolment of Almajiri and out-of-school children into formal school, provision of vocational and technical education, as well as developing a unified approach to addressing the menace in the zone.
The next meeting was rescheduled for July 27 – 29, 2025 in Jalingo, Taraba State. In attendance at the meeting were governors of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states, while the governor of Bauchi State was represented by his deputy
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