Northeast Governors Call for Comprehensive Strategy to Tackle Insecurity and Underdevelopment
The Northeast Governors Forum has emphasized that addressing the region’s persistent security challenges requires a holistic, multi-sectoral approach.
Speaking at the Forum’s 12th rotational meeting held in Taraba State on Saturday, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum outlined critical areas of focus, including improved education, healthcare, infrastructure, and enhanced security architecture.
While commending President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to combating insurgency in the region, the governors noted that long-term stability would only be achieved by addressing the deeper, systemic issues fueling unrest.
Key among these issues, the Forum stated, are youth unemployment, lack of vocational and technical education, poor road infrastructure, and ineffective poverty reduction strategies. They stressed that these drivers of insecurity must be urgently tackled to achieve lasting peace and sustainable development.
The governors reiterated their call for non-military—or “non-kinetic”—interventions, advocating for solutions that go beyond force. “We must address the underlying causes of our challenges through job creation, revitalizing agriculture, expanding technical and vocational training, upgrading healthcare, and improving road connectivity,” the communique read.
They also called for stronger collaboration with the Federal Government to create a more attractive environment for both local and international investors. Encouraging the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, they said, is crucial to rebuilding the region’s economy.
“In light of recent forecasts from the National Hydrological Services Agency and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, which project challenging weather patterns in 2025, we urge immediate prioritization of comprehensive mitigation strategies,” the Forum stated.
Earlier in the meeting, Taraba State Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas appealed to fellow governors to support the push for the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) to fast-track the reconstruction of the Namai Bridge, which collapsed in August last year, leading to loss of lives and disrupting connectivity in the region.
The Forum reaffirmed its commitment to confronting the region’s humanitarian and infrastructural challenges head-on, declaring that the development and security of the Northeast remain top priorities.
