The North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has announced plans to establish a regional airline to improve air connectivity across the six states in the region.
The forum’s chairman and Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, said N15.8 billion had been secured in counterpart funding for the proposed North-East Air Shuttle.
Zulum disclosed this at the 13th regular meeting of the NEGF in Maiduguri on Saturday, saying the remaining counterpart funding was expected before the end of the year to enable the air shuttle to commence operations.
The governors also committed to developing 10 megawatts of solar power in each of the six member states as part of efforts to strengthen regional infrastructure and energy supply.
Zulum said security conditions across the region had improved, crediting the armed forces, security agencies and the resilience of local communities.
He said security remained central to development and urged the region to move from relief to recovery and ultimately to sustainable prosperity.
According to the governor, the focus would include rebuilding resilient communities through housing, education, healthcare and economic opportunities for displaced persons.
Governors Push 17-Project Strategy
Gombe State Governor and chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, said the NEGF’s institutional structure, including its secretariat, technical committees and sector working groups, was among its key achievements.
Yahaya said a 17-project strategy package was submitted to President Bola Tinubu in September 2025 for urgent action.
The package includes the Maiduguri Rail Corridor and Frontier Oil Exploration, he said.
The governors have also adopted a unified strategy that combines military action with measures targeting poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, drug abuse and illegal mining.
Yahaya said the strategy further prioritises stronger intelligence sharing among member states and deeper engagement with local communities.
Follow us on:
Author
