By Beatrice Gondyi Jalingo
The North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional unity while addressing critical challenges in security, climate change, agriculture, and economic development.
Rising from its 12th meeting held on Saturday in Jalingo, Taraba State, the Forum – comprising the Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe States – underscored the need for greater collaboration to advance peace and prosperity in the subregion.
The meeting, chaired by Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, noted the progress made in counter-insurgency operations but raised concerns about lingering humanitarian crises and infrastructural deficits.
On climate change, the governors expressed worries over flood risks forecasted by credible agencies and called for proactive mitigation, including sensitization of vulnerable communities and urgent rehabilitation of damaged facilities. They appealed to the Federal Government and the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) for support in disaster preparedness.
The Forum also addressed rising costs of agricultural inputs, stressing the importance of increased subsidies and robust dry season farming plans to avert food insecurity.
In a bid to strengthen regional commerce, the governors announced that the North-East Trade Fair will hold in Maiduguri, Borno State, in December 2025, in partnership with NECCIMA, to attract investors and boost intra-regional trade.
On infrastructure, the Forum directed its Power and Energy Committee to design a comprehensive Subregional Power Masterplan to tackle energy poverty, while in education, it congratulated the University of Maiduguri on its 50th anniversary and pledged support for the relaunch of its Endowment Fund in November.
The next meeting of the Forum is scheduled to hold in Maiduguri, Borno State, from December 12 to 14, 2025.
Governor Zulum, who signed the communiqué, emphasized that the Forum will remain a vital platform for dialogue, policy alignment, and collective action in the North-East.
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