North-East Governors to Launch Regional Airline, Push for Rail, Power, and Security Reforms
Governors of Nigeria’s six North-East states have resolved to establish the North-East Air Shuttle, a regional airline aimed at boosting transportation, economic integration, and connectivity across the subregion, Apples Bite Magazine reports.
The decision 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, and chaired by Borno State Governor and forum Chairman, Babagana Umara Zulum.
Reading the communiqué, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri said the forum had made significant progress since its inaugural meeting in Gombe in March 2020, crediting unity among member states for tangible gains in infrastructure and regional development.
The governors welcomed the Federal Government’s renewed focus on 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 shifted from isolated power initiatives to a regional energy agenda. It noted that the Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant now feeds the national grid and urged states to leverage the new electricity law, solar resources, and mini-grid solutions to expand supply. The governors renewed calls for accelerated completion of the Mambila Hydropower Plant following the resolution of the legal dispute surrounding the project.
The forum also called for increased investment in education, including the release of long-awaited scholarships for indigent students, stronger efforts to reduce 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 acknowledged Federal Government support through the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for 10,000 electric tricycles, 10 electric buses, and 300 electric taxis, expected to be launched in October.
On security, the governors acknowledged progress in the fight against insurgency but said the region still faces 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 make young people vulnerable to criminal and extremist groups.
The forum described the region’s youthful population as both an opportunity and a responsibility, stressing the need to expand access to quality education, vocational training, entrepreneurship, technology, and employment.
The governors also 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.
