The North East Governors Forum (NEGF) has called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the completion and commencement of the Mambilla Hydro Power Plant in Taraba State.
The governors made the call in an 11-point communique issued at the end of the Forum’s 13th Regular Meeting held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The meeting was chaired by Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, and attended by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri; Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya; and the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Auwal Jatau, who represented the Bauchi State governor, among others.
Presenting the communique, Governor Fintiri said the Forum remained concerned about what it described as the seeming neglect of the Mambilla Hydro Power Plant.
“Forum reiterates its long-standing concern over the seeming neglect of the Mambilla Hydro Power Plant and calls on the Federal Government to take advantage of the recent clearance of the legal encumbrance with the arbitration ruling on the matter, to expedite action on the completion and take-off of the plant,” Fintiri said.
The Forum also acknowledged efforts by member states to improve electricity supply across the North East, noting that the region’s energy agenda had moved from individual state concerns to a broader regional initiative.
It noted that the Dadinkowa Hydropower Plant now feeds the national grid and encouraged member states to take advantage of the new electricity law, abundant sunshine and other available resources to expand solar power and mini-grid solutions across the subregion.
On education, the governors acknowledged the intervention role of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) but called for increased investment in the sector.
The Forum particularly urged the NEDC to release long-awaited scholarship awards to indigent students in the region and devote more resources to reducing the number of out-of-school children.
It also called for coordinated support for Tsangaya education as part of efforts to address educational challenges across the North East.
The governors said sustained investment in power and education remained critical to accelerating development and improving the welfare of people across the subregion
