The North-East Governors’ Forum on Saturday lamented the Federal Government’s absence in the region.
It also lamented that the region has been neglected.
A communique issued by the governors during the Forum’s 10th meeting held in Bauchi State, signed by the NEGF Chairman, Prof Babagana Zulum, urged the Federal Government to prioritise the region to enhance its development.
According to the communique, “Forum reiterates its concern over the seeming neglect of the North-East in the allocation of Federal Government capital projects.”
The Forum noted with dismay that despite its cry for attention on the state of infrastructure in the region which has been consistently echoed in all its communiques over the years, especially the poor road and railway infrastructure along the economic corridors that link the North-East subregion to the rest of the country, nothing serious seems to be happening.
The Forum also noted that the roads from Enugu to Maiduguri are in a deplorable state and the railway line from Enugu up to Maiduguri has been destroyed, noting that it is a major route for regional trade and is very important for integration, peace-building and national unity.
It added that the region is also not included in the National Infrastructure Plan for the transition from PMS to Compressed Natural Gas, CNG.
The Forum called on the Federal Government to look into the situation and consider the reconstruction of basic infrastructure along the Enugu-Maiduguri Economic Corridor and inclusion of the North-East in all National Development Plans and initiatives.
While decrying the blackout across the region, the NEGF lambasted the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, on its poor handling of repairs, adding that it would wait till the agreed May 27 date to see full restoration of power.
The Forum observed with dismay the blackout experienced by the region over the last one month and the nonchalant attitude exhibited by the TCN in addressing the issue.
In the same vein, the Forum said it is watching keenly the commitment made by TCN to restore power to all the states of the region by the 27th of May 2024 and urged the Federal Government to direct TCN to take immediate action.
The Forum added that it had resolved in the short term, to set up a solar power plant that can generate a minimum of 10 megawatts per state.
The governors expressed dismay over a single transmission line to a region with over 35 million population, expressing deep concern that the Northeast is the only region in Nigeria that has one transmission line supplying six states with a land mass of nearly 300,000 square kilometres and a population of over 35 million.
It said it has made the region the most vulnerable and most disadvantaged for industrial development and economic growth with over 70 per cent of its population below 35 years of age and therefore called on the Federal Government, as a matter of urgency, to implement the extension of the 330KV transmission line from Makurdi–Gassol –Jalingo linking to Adamawa–Gombe -Bauchi and the extension of the 330KV line from Kano-Bauchi-Yobe, linking to Borno.
It urged the Federal Government to maximise the use of the existing hydroelectric dams to boost power supply.
The Forum also resolved to maximise the existing hydropower generated in Kashimbilla and Dadin Kowa dams, which the region has not been benefitting from because the Ministry of Power has failed to extend the 330KV line of Makurdi-Gassol-Jalingo line.
North-East governors decry absence of Nigerian Govt’s presence in region
