By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, led a high-powered delegation of all six North East Governors to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, presenting a list of 17 vital road projects and urging the resumption of oil exploration in the region.
The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa, focused on accelerating development and improving connectivity within the region.
Governor Zulum, who chairs the North East Governors Forum, specifically requested the urgent completion of key infrastructure projects to boost economic activity and security.
The governors in attendance included Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Bala Muhammad (Bauchi), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), and Agbu Keffas (Taraba).
The governors submitted a detailed list of 17 road projects crucial for inter-state travel and trade, including the Kano-Maiduguri Road, the Maiduguri-Damboa-Yola Road, and the Port Harcourt-Jos-Bauchi-Maiduguri Railway line.
The forum pushed for the resumption of oil exploration in frontier basins, specifically naming the Kolmani and Lake Chad wells, a move that could significantly alter the economic fortunes of the region.
Governor Zulum commended President Tinubu for his commitment to restoring peace and stability in the northeast and for continuing the fight against insurgency.
The governors pledged their full alignment with the administration’s initiatives on manpower training and technology provision to enhance security and promote agricultural development.
In his response, President Tinubu acknowledged the governors’ concerns and assured them of his administration’s firm commitment to addressing the developmental needs of the northeast.
The collective appeal underscores the region’s unified front in seeking federal intervention to address long-standing infrastructural deficits and harness its natural resource potential.
