North-East Governors’ Forum To Develop Regional Power Masterplan
The North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has agreed to develop a power Masterplan to address the lingering energy poverty in the region.
This is contained in a communique issued at the end of the 12th Meeting of the NEGF, held in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
The communique issued on Saturday by the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, said “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 Masterplan.”
The Syndicate reports that the Forum, which comprised the Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States, cautioned that the prevailing high cost of Agricultural inputs may lead to food shortages.
“Forum decries the 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.”
The North East Governors acknowledged the appreciable success recorded in the onslaught against the insurgency, but regrets that the subregion is still confronted by daunting humanitarian and infrastructural challenges.
This, they added, is being compounded by natural disasters, including flood.
“Forum took into cognizance the forecast of credible agencies on climate risks 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 North East Development Commission (NEDC) to reconstruct broken infrastructure, especially bridges.”
They agreed to hold the North East Trade Fair in partnership with North East Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture in Dember in Maiduguri.
“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,” the communique added.
The next meeting is to hold in Maiduguri between 12th-14th December, 2025.
