The North-East Governors Forum has declared that the security challenges plaguing their region can only be resolved through a multidimensional strategy that addresses both military and socio-economic issues.
Speaking at the 12th rotational meeting of the Forum in Jalingo, Taraba State, on Saturday, Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, identified education, healthcare, security reinforcement, and infrastructural development as key areas of focus.
While commending President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to combat insurgency, the governors stressed the need to address underlying causes such as youth restiveness, unemployment, poor road networks, and weak poverty reduction programmes.
“We must reiterate our call for non-kinetic solutions to the challenges,” Zulum said.
“This involves tackling youth unemployment through technical and vocational education, improving road networks, revitalising agriculture, and enhancing poverty alleviation, security, and healthcare among others.”
The Forum also called for greater collaboration with the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for both local and foreign investors and to promote the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises.
Zulum added, “We must take practical steps that will attract investments and promote large and small-scale enterprises. In line with hydrological and climate predictions for 2025, we must also prioritise robust mitigation strategies.
“In these authoritative forecasts, it is recommended that your excellencies immediately prioritise the development of robust mitigation strategies.”
Earlier, Taraba State governor, Agbu Kefas, urged the Forum to push the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) to fast-track the reconstruction of the Nnamai Bridge, which collapsed in August 2024, claiming several lives.
The governors reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the region’s humanitarian and infrastructural setbacks, pledging to drive sustainable development across the North-East region.
