The six North-East governors have asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revive oil exploration activities that stalled years ago in parts of Borno State.
The demand was contained in the communiqué issued after the 13th regular meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF), held in Maiduguri, Borno State, from October 2 to 3, 2026.
The governors specifically want the Federal Government to return to petroleum exploration efforts earlier launched in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of Borno.
The Forum’s Vice Chairman and Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, made the call while reading the communiqué at the end of the meeting.
The governors, however, praised Tinubu for renewed attention to oil exploration in the region, particularly the Kolmani project in Gombe State, describing the development as a boost to the North-East’s economic prospects.
They also commended ongoing federal efforts on major infrastructure projects, including the Port Harcourt-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Maiduguri rail corridor and the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri highway.
The governors said the region needed to maximise its energy resources, pointing to the Dadinkowa hydropower plant, which now supplies electricity to the national grid.
They also urged the Federal Government to move faster on the long-delayed Mambila Hydropower Project, following the recent resolution of legal issues surrounding the project.
In another major move, the governors disclosed plans to expand CNG and LNG infrastructure across the region through a partnership with Green Ville Energy.
The Forum also revealed that the North-East is preparing to launch a regional air shuttle, with ₦10.8 billion already raised as counterpart funding by the six states. The remaining funds are expected to be provided before the end of October to pave the way for flight operations.
The governors further acknowledged plans involving the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) to deploy 10,000 electric tricycles, 10 electric buses and 300 electric taxis, with the rollout expected to begin this month.
On security, the governors praised the sacrifices of Nigerian troops and acknowledged progress against insurgency, but admitted that serious humanitarian and development challenges remain.
They pledged stronger intelligence sharing and closer cooperation among the states while calling for greater investment in education, vocational training, entrepreneurship and technology-driven employment to prevent young people from being recruited by extremist groups.
The governors also urged the NEDC to increase investment in education, release outstanding scholarships for indigent students and intensify efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the region.
The Forum further announced plans to work with the Institute of Forest Research to train local forestry experts and tackle deforestation.
The next meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum is scheduled for December 18 and 19, 2026, in Gombe State.
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