North East Governors’ Forum have expressed concern over the seeming neglect of the region in the allocation of Federal Government Capital Projects.
Chairman of the forum, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State in a communique issued at the end of 10th Meeting of the forum held in Bauchi, said the region is also not included in the National Infrastructure Plan for the transition from PMS to Compressed Gas
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 communique over the years, especially the poor road and railway infrastructure along the economic corridors that links the NorthEast subregion to the rest of the country, nothing serious seems to be happening.
It called on the federal Government to look into the situation and consider the reconstruction of the basic infrastructure along Enugu-Maiduguri Economic Corridor and inclusion of NE in all National Development Plans and initiatives.
The Forum further noted the blackout experienced by the region over the lack of electricity experienced over the last one month and the nonchalant attitude exhibited by the TCN in addressing this issue of National importance for the security and development of the country.
Babagana revealed that the Forum has resolved in the short term, to set up a solar power plant that can generate a minimum 10 Megawatts per State, adding that the Northeast is the only region in Nigeria that has one transmission line supplying six states with a land mass of nearly 300Km square and population of over 35 million.
He explained that that this has made the region the most vulnerable and most disadvantaged for industrial development and economic growth with over 70% of its population below 35 years of age.
The Forum therefore calls on the Minister of Power and 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.