With a strong commitment to tackle the resurgent Boko Haram insurgency and address the deep-seated socio-economic issues plaguing the Northeast, governors rose yesterday from the 11th edition of the North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) meeting.
The meeting, which held in Damaturu, was attended by governors Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa); Babagana Zulum (Borno); Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe); Agbu Kefas (Taraba) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe).
Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed was represented by Deputy Governor Mohammed Auwal Jatau.
In the nine-point communique issued at the end of the meeting, the governors appreciated the existing collaboration amongst member states.
They pledged to continue the pursuit of common solutions to the security and socio-economic challenges facing their zone.
The NEGF called for a renewed focus on counter-insurgency strategies and expressed a deep concern over the escalating activities of insurgents within the sub-region.
The Forum called for a critical reappraisal of the counter-insurgency strategies employed by the armed forces, security agencies and community leaders to effectively combat the evolving threat.
Emphasizing that a purely kinetic approach to the security challenge has proven insufficient, the governors stressed the need for a multi-dimensional strategy that tackles the root causes of insecurity, including youth unemployment.
The governors restated commitment to prioritizing vocational and technical education, improving road networks, enhancing education and reducing poverty across the Northeast.
They also expressed concern over the dilapidated road network within their region, which according to them, contribute significantly to the prevailing insecurity.
The NEGF appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize the completion of abandoned infrastructure projects, deeming them critical for alleviating poverty, insecurity and the general underdevelopment of the Northeast.
The Forum reaffirmed commitment to opening up the Northeast to investment opportunities, boosting agriculture for food security, combating climate change, promoting skills acquisition, and driving industrialisation.
“These efforts are aimed at creating much-needed employment opportunities for the region’s large youth population, who are particularly vulnerable to recruitment by insurgents”, the communiqué read.
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The NEGF, which acknowledged the crucial role of the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) in the region’s recovery, called for greater engagement between the Commission and the various state governments to ensure development needs and priorities.
It listed the critical sectors as road infrastructure, transportation, education and healthcare.
The governors also urged the NEDC to rededicate itself to its core mandate of rebuilding the insurgency-devastated sub-region and to be more proactive in ensuring the timely delivery of ongoing projects.
The Forum recognized the significance of the Nigerian Law School’s Yola Campus within the region and resolved to support its expansion through the provision of additional hostel accommodation, water supply, and other essential facilities.
The communiqué reads: “This support aims to increase the campus’s admission capacity and create a more conducive learning environment.
“In a significant move to address the issue of out-of-school children, the NEGF pledged to work closely with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE).
“This collaboration will involve providing office spaces in each state, supporting the enrolment of Almajiri and out-of-school children into formal education, offering vocational and technical training, and developing a unified approach to tackle this pressing social issue within the sub-region.
“The next meeting of the NEGF is scheduled to take place in Jalingo, Taraba State from July 27 to 29, 2025, signaling the Forum’s continued commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges facing the zone sustained regional cooperation.