By: Gbenga Akingbule
The North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) at the weekend has called on the Federal Government to revisit oil exploration activities earlier commenced but later stalled in Borno State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari commenced the Wadi-B drilling campaign in the Chad Basin, which was officially flagged off in May 2023 at Tuba, Jere Local Government Area of Borno State. The drilling campaign was undertaken by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC ) as part of efforts to explore the oil and gas potential of the Chad Basin.
The NEGF which consists of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states made the call in a communique issued at the end of their meeting held in Maiduguri , the Borno state capital where they discussed security, regional integration, infrastructure and economic development across the sub-region.
The Forum commented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for renewed attention to major infrastructure projects in the North-East, including oil exploration at Kolmani.
The governors urged the Federal Government to resume oil exploration activities in Borno, while also calling for renewed efforts towards completing the Mambila Hydropower Project to improve electricity supply in the region.
” The Forum, however, calls on the Federal Government to revisit oil exploration activities earlier commenced but subsequently stalled in Borno State.” The governors said .
On transportation, the governors announced plans to partner with Greenfield Energy to establish additional CNG and LNG stations across the North-East to reduce transportation costs.
They also disclosed plans to establish a North-East Regional Airlines shuttle to facilitate the movement of people and goods across the sub-region.
The Forum commended the Federal Government and the North-l East Development Commission for providing 10,000 electric tricycles, 10 electric buses and 300 electric taxis, which are expected to be launched in October.
On security, the governors acknowledged progress in the fight against insurgency but expressed concern over continuing humanitarian and infrastructural challenges, pledging to strengthen interstate cooperation, intelligence sharing and coordinated responses to emerging threats.
The Forum also called for increased investment in education, youth employment, vocational training and entrepreneurship to address socio-economic challenges facing young people in the region.
