N/East Governors Meet Tinubu, Demand Completion of 17 Abandoned Critical Roads
…..resumption of oil exploration
The six governors in the North East on Wednesday met with President Bola Tinubu and demanded for the completion of 17 federal roads critical to the economy of the region.
Although contracts for the roads were long awarded, no construction work is going on.
The governors, led by Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno, who is also the Chairman of North East Governors Forum, asked the President to also order the immediate the resumption of oil exploration, particularly the Kolmani and Lake Chad oil wells.
The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was attended by Governors Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Bala Muhammad of Bauchi, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa and Agbu Keffas of TaTaraba.
Zulum said the 17 critical roads in the region include those connecting the six states in the zone.
The roads are Kano-Maiduguri Road, Port Harcourt-Jos-Bauchi-Maiduguri Railway line, Bama-Mubi-Yola Road, Wukari-Jalingo-Yola Road, Duguri-Mansur Road (NNPC Project Ongoing), Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Damaturu Road, Damaturu-Geidam Road, Bauchi-Ningi-Nasaru-Babaldo Road and Gombe-Potiskum road.
Others include Damaturu-Biu Road, Alkaleri-Futuk Road, Maiduguri-Damboa-Yola Road, Gombe-Dukku-Darazo Road, Biu-Gombe Road, Ibi-Shamdam Road, Maiduguri-Monguno-Baga Road and Maiduguri-Ngala-Bama-Banki Road.
The North East Governors chairman commended the president for his commitment to restoring peace in the region.
“We thank you for fostering peace and stability within the sub-region and continuing with the initiative of your predecessor in sustaining the fight against insurgency,” he added, and assured him of their commitment to building skilled manpower and technology to reverse the insecurity facing the North East.
“We are fully aligning with Mr. President’s good initiative of training of manpower and providing technology with a view to reversing the ugly trend in the forest, thereby reducing the insurgency and promoting agricultural development in alignment with the renewed hope agenda on food security,” Zulum said.
“Mr President, the North East governors hold you in high esteem and all of us have resolved to partner with you in your determination to provide good governance for Nigeria with a view to leaving behind lasting legacies and landmarks for the country.”
Responding, President Tinubu acknowledged the governors’ concerns and assured them of his administration’s commitment to addressing the developmental needs of the region.
