North East Governors demand urgent completion of 17 roads, oil projects
By Baba Dan’iya
Gov. Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno on Wednesday led North East governors to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where they pressed for urgent action on key infrastructure and energy priorities of the region.
Zulum, who chairs the North East Governors Forum, spoke on behalf of his colleagues during the meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He demanded the fast-tracking of 17 critical road projects linking the six states and called for the resumption of oil exploration in frontier wells, especially the Kolmani and Lake Chad basins.
Zulum listed the projects to include Kano–Maiduguri Road, Port Harcourt–Jos–Bauchi–Maiduguri Railway Line, Bama–Mubi–Yola Road, Wukari–Jalingo–Yola Road and Duguri–Mansur Road (NNPC project).
Others are Bauchi–Gombe–Biu–Damaturu Road, Damaturu–Geidam Road, Bauchi–Ningi–Nasaru–Babaldo Road, Gombe–Potiskum Road, Damaturu–Biu Road, Alkaleri–Futuk Road and Maiduguri–Damboa–Yola Road.
He also named Gombe–Dukku–Darazo Road, Biu–Gombe Road, Ibi–Shamdam Road, Maiduguri–Monguno–Baga Road and Maiduguri–Ngala–Bama–Banki Roads as projects of immediate priority.
The governor stressed that completion of the roads was essential for economic recovery, security operations, and regional integration.
Zulum further thanked the President for sustaining peace efforts in the North East and pledged the forum’s support for the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in manpower training, technology deployment, and agriculture.
Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and his counterparts Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, and Agbu Kefas of Taraba attended the meeting.
Responding, Tinubu welcomed the concerns of the forum and assured the governors of his administration’s resolve to address the road infrastructure and energy challenges in the region.
