North-East Governors Push Regional Energy Agenda, Seek Speedy Completion Of Mambila Hydropower

The Forum also urged member states to take advantage of the new electricity law and the region’s abundant sunshine to expand solar and mini-grid technologies.

The position was contained in an 11-point communiqué issued in Maiduguri on Saturday at the end of the Forum’s 13th meeting.

The communiqué, signed by the Forum’s chairman and Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, was read by the Forum’s vice chairman and Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

The governors noted that the Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant in Gombe State now feeds the national grid, describing it as one of the outcomes of their joint efforts to improve power supply and energise the sub-region.

The Forum also restated its concern over what it described as the seeming neglect of the Mambila Hydropower Plant in Taraba State.

It urged the Federal Government to use the recent arbitration ruling, which cleared the project’s legal encumbrance, to accelerate the completion and take-off of the plant.

The governors agreed to partner with Green Ville Energy to build more Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) stations across the region to reduce transportation costs.

They also commended the Federal Government, through the North East Development Commission (NEDC), for providing 10,000 electric tricycles, 10 electric buses and 300 electric taxis, which are expected to be launched later this month to ease transportation challenges.

The Forum further resolved to establish a North-East regional air shuttle, saying it would make the movement of people and goods within the region and to other parts of the country faster and easier.

The governors commended President Bola Tinubu for renewed attention to the Port Harcourt–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Maiduguri rail corridor, the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Biu–Maiduguri highway and frontier oil exploration at Kolmani.

However, they called on the Federal Government to revisit oil exploration activities that commenced but later stalled in Magumeri and Gubio local government areas of Borno State.

On security, the governors acknowledged the progress recorded in the fight against insurgency, commending the courage and sacrifice of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

The Forum noted that the North-East has one of the youngest populations in the country and recommitted to providing young people with quality educ