By
Babangida Galleon
Governors of the northeast sub-region of Nigeria have reiterated the need for sub-regional integration, as the Northeast governors’ Forum 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 in order to mitigate the poor energy situation in the region.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the ninth northeast governors’ forum meeting held in Yola, the Adamawa state capital.
The communique which was read by the governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni on behalf of the governors also resolved that each member state should take up the matter with more seriousness by assigning such responsibility to an appointee with a cabinet status.
While noting that Climate Change and Environmental degradation are still major issues affecting the sub-region, Mai Mala Buni said, the forum also resolved to strengthen its collaboration with all initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and others to tackle that.
According to the governor, the forum noted with appreciation, the readiness of the Bauchi State Government to host the North East Regional Trade Fair between 26th February – 3rd March, 2024 and called on all the subnational entities within the region to actively participate in the fair while inviting the nation, Africa and the world to come and explore the economic opportunities that abound in the region.
The forum called on states that are yet to domesticate the education Law 2022 as recommended by the Northeast Education Council, during its 8th meeting to do so as a matter of strategic regional integration.
Governor Buni said the security situation in the region is improving positively, the forum noted need for more collaboration among member states in the design of the security architecture for the region and to work more with the security agencies to have a common security roadmap for the North East.
He said, the forum noted the need for a robust platform for regional economic development and resolved to work as an entity in strengthening the human capacity and socio-economic development of its people.
Raising concerns on the state of the Federal roads within and between the states in the region which seemed neglected, the Forum called on the Federal Ministry of Works to follow up road contracts awarded in the region, lamenting that the Poor road network is fueling insecurity and stalling development and making life more difficult for the people in the region.
The governor said, the forum also resolved to call on the North East Development Commission to work with State Governments and the Federal Ministry of Works to remove the burdens on federal road contracts which are the major setbacks to infrastructural development in the region and find more practical ways to intervene on these roads.
He said, the Forum noted with dismay the poor rail system in the region, and the repairs on the old gauge rail lines is not useful and sustainable technology, therefore called for inclusion of the region into the Nigerian National Railway Transport Plan using the Modern Gauge rail and the National Road plan that the region is conspicuously missing.
Governor Buni added that the forum has resolved to hold the 10th Meeting of the governors’ forum in Bauchi between 23rd February – 26th March, 2024,
