Governors of the six North-East states have agreed to establish the North-East Air Shuttle as part of efforts to improve transportation, regional integration and economic activities across the subregion.
The resolution was contained in an 11-point communiqué issued on Saturday at the end of the 13th regular meeting of the North-East Governors Forum (NEGF) held in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The meeting was chaired by Borno State Governor and NEGF Chairman, Babagana Umara Zulum.
The governors reaffirmed their commitment to speaking with one voice and pursuing common policies on security, economic integration, social development and other issues affecting the region.
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who read the communiqué, said the forum had recorded significant progress since its inaugural meeting in Gombe in March 2020.
According to him, the unity among member states has enabled the forum to achieve tangible results in infrastructure and other areas of regional development.
The governors welcomed the Federal Government’s renewed attention to the Port Harcourt–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Maiduguri rail corridor, frontier oil exploration at Kolmani, and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Biu–Maiduguri highway.
They also urged the Federal Government to revive oil exploration activities that began but were later stalled in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of Borno State.
On electricity, the forum said member states had moved from pursuing isolated power initiatives to developing a regional energy agenda.
It noted that the Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant now feeds the national grid and urged the states to leverage the new electricity law, solar resources and mini-grid solutions to expand power supply across the region.
The governors also renewed their call for the Federal Government to accelerate the completion of the Mambila Hydropower Plant following the resolution of the legal dispute surrounding the project.
The forum called for increased investment in education, including the release of long-awaited scholarships for indigent students, stronger efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children and coordinated support for Tsangaya education.
To reduce transportation costs and improve logistics, the governors agreed to partner with Green Ville Energy to establish additional compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas stations across the region.
They also acknowledged Federal Government support through the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for the provision of 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 said the region continued to face humanitarian and infrastructure challenges.
They pledged continued support for security agencies, improved intelligence sharing, stronger inter-state cooperation and community engagement, alongside measures to address socio-economic conditions that could make young people vulnerable to criminal and extremist groups.
The forum also identified the region’s youthful population as an opportunity and a responsibility, stressing the need to expand access to quality education, vocational training, entrepreneurship, technology and employment.
The governors further expressed concern over deforestation and its environmental impact, resolving to partner with the Institute of Forest Research to train forest experts in the region.
The next NEGF meeting is scheduled for December 18 and 19, 2026, in Gombe State.
