N/East Govs visit Tinubu, request completion of 17 roads, oil exploration

Governors of the North East states met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday to present their concerns and requests regarding critical development projects in the region.

The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, focused on the urgent completion of 17 major road projects and the resumption of oil exploration in frontier wells, particularly the Kolmani and Lake Chad wells.

Governors in attendance included Babagana Zulum of Borno, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Bala Muhammad of Bauchi, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, and Agbu Kefas of Taraba.

Addressing the president, Governor Zulum, who also chairs the North East Governors Forum, called for the completion of ongoing road projects and the construction of vital new routes connecting the six states of the zone.

The projects discussed included the Kano-Maiduguri Road, Port Harcourt-Jos-Bauchi-Maiduguri Railway line, Bama-Mubi-Yola Road, Wukari-Jalingo-Yola Road, Duguri-Mansur Road (NNPC project ongoing), Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Damaturu Road, Damaturu-Geidam Road, Bauchi-Ningi-Nasaru-Babaldo Road, and Gombe-Potiskum and Damaturu-Biu Roads.

Additional roads cited were Alkaleri-Futuk Road, Maiduguri-Damboa-Yola Road, Gombe-Dukku-Darazo Road, Biu-Gombe Road, Ibi-Shamdam Road, Maiduguri-Monguno-Baga Road, and Maiduguri-Ngala-Bama-Banki Roads.

Governor Zulum commended the president for efforts to restore peace across the North East. “We thank you for fostering stability within the sub-region and continuing your predecessor’s initiatives to sustain the fight against insurgency,” he said.

He assured the president that the governors were committed to supporting manpower training and technological initiatives aimed at reducing insecurity. “We are fully aligning with your vision for training manpower and providing technology to reverse the trends in the forest, thereby reducing insurgency and promoting agricultural development in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda on food security,” Zulum added.

He further noted, “Mr President, the North East governors hold you in high regard. We have resolved to partner with you in delivering good governance and leaving lasting legacies and landmarks for the country.”

President Tinubu acknowledged the governors’ concerns and reassured them of his administration’s dedication to addressing the region’s developmental needs.