Northeast Governors under the auspices of the Northeast Governors Forum(NEGF) has lamented over the inadequate power supply across the nation, saying that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is not doing enough to repair vandalized lines.
The Governors made their stand at the end of the 10th Northeast Governors Forum Meeting in Bauchi under the leadership of Borno state Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
The Governors called on TCN and all those involved in the area of power supply in the nation to as a matter of urgency, work anxiously to restore power to the region as the development has already crippled economic activities and makes life difficult for people.
Reading the Communique, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa state said the Forum has resolved to establish a 10 megawatt solar power plant in each state while urged the federal government to direct TCN to redouble effort to restore the energy supply to region.
The NEGF further called on the Northeast Development Commission to liased with the state Governments to harness energy potentials to address energy deficit of the region.
It noted that the contractual encumbrances on some of the bad federal roads within and between the states are major setbacks to infrastructure development in the region.
It also noted with dismay, the poor rail system in the region, including the repairs on the old gauge rail lines especially along Enugu-Maiduguri Economic Corridor.
The forum called for inclusion of the region in the Nigerian National Railway Transport Plan using the modern gauge rail and the National Road Plan from which it said the region was conspicuously missing.
The forum said there was a need for a robust platform for regional economic development and resolved to work as an entity in strengthening the human capacity and socio-economic development of its people.
The governors expressed delight at the growing cooperation and collaboration among member states, especially in areas of Trade and investment, a move that lead to the organization of Northeast Trade Fair and reaffirmed commitment to foster a common ground and pursue a collective cause on matters of security, social and economic integration of the region, among others.
It then Commended The Bauchi state Government for hosting the Meeting as well as the Trade Fair and announced Damaturu, The Yobe state Capital as the venue for the 11th NEGF Meeting scheduled for August 2024. END
