Northeast Governors Lament, Says Region Neglected By President Tinubu

By Suleiman Anyalawechi

The Northeast Governors Forum has expressed concern over alleged neglect of the region in the allocation of Federal Government Capital projects.

This is even as it has decried the nonchalant attitude of the Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN to the total black out which the region has been subjected to in the last one month.

The Northeast Governors made their position known in a communique issued at the end of its 10th meeting held in Bauchi on Friday, May 17, 2024.

The Communique which was signed by the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, noted with dismay that despite its cry for attention on the state of infrastructure in the region which has  been consistently echoed in  previous communiques, particularly the poor and deplorable road networks along economic corridors that link the region with the rest of the country, nothing serious seem to be happening.

“The roads from Enugu up to Maiduguri is in a deplorable state,  and the railway from Enugu to Maiduguri has been destroyed. This is a major route for regional trade and very important for integration, peace building, and national unity .

“The region is, also, not  included in the National infrastructure plan for the transition from PMS to the Compressed Gas.

“The Forum is calling on the Federal Government to look into the situation and consider the reconstruction of this basic infrastructure along Enugu-Maiduguri economic corridor and inclusion of Northeast in all National Development Plans and Initiatives ” the communique noted .

The North East Governors Forum also said it is dismayed by the  carefree disposition of the TCN in addressing the worsening power supply situation in the region, adding that it is watching keenly the fulfillment of the promise by the TCN to restore normalcy in the power supply system before May 27 this year.

“The Forum urged the Federal Government to direct the TCN to take immediate action . The Forum has resolved in the short term to set up a solar power plant that can generate 10 megawatts per State.

“Forum notes with deep concern that Northeast is the only region in the country that has one transmission line in six states with a land mass of nearly 300,000 square kilometers and a population of 35 million.

“This has made the region the most vulnerable and disadvantaged for industrial development and economic growth with over %70 of its population below 35 years of age.

“Forum, therefore, calls on the Minister of Power and, in deed, the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, implement the extension of the 330 kV transmission line from Makurdi -Gassol-Jalingo linking Adamawa -Gombe -Bauchi and the extension of the 330kV line from kano-Bauchi -Yobe, linking Borno.

“Forum resolved to maximize the existing hydropower generated  in the Kashimbilla and Dadin Kowa dam which the region has not been benefitting from because of the failure of the ministry of power to extend the 330 kV line of the Makurdi -Gassol-Jalingo line”,  the Communique further stated .

The Northeast Governors also urged the Northeast Development Commission to adopt more consultative approach in its activities ,as well as prioritize its projects to ensure that its activities impacts on the lives of the people.

“Forum calls on the NEDC to work with the States in the region for Energy Development to unlock the energy potentials of the region and lessen the energy paucity burden on the people”