…… decries access to rail system in region
…to hold regional trade fair in Bauchi
North-East Governors’ Forum on Saturday lamented power situation in the region, vowing to invest in solar and coal plant in order to improve blackouts.
According to a statement signed by the Governor of Borno State Professor Babagana Zulum, who doubles as Chairman of NEGF, it would collaborate with a private Chinese firm, adding that it would construct 50MW in each of the six states.
Our correspondent reports that the ninth Forum meeting had in attendance Governors’ of Gombe; Muhammadu Yahaya, Yobe; Mai Buni, Adamawa; Ahmadu Fintiri, Bauchi; Bala Mohammed, and Taraba; Dr Kefas Agbu.
The statement partly read, “Forum notes the poor energy situation in the region. To mitigate the situation, Forum resolved to work with Shanghai Electric to construct a 60 MW Coal Power Plant or 50 MW Solar Power Plant in each State of the region.”
While decrying the lack of rail system in the region, the governors’ urged Federal Government to include the region into its modern guage rail, adding “Forum notes with dismay the poor rail system in the region. It equally notes that the repairs on the old gauge rail lines is not useful and sustainable technology. Forum calls for inclusion of the region into the Nigerian National Railway Transport Plan using the Modern Guage rail and the National Road plan that the region is conspicuously missing.”
The NEGF also stated its resolve to improve the economy of the region, announcing that it plans a regional trade fair scheduled for next week, “Forum notes with appreciation, the readiness of the Bauchi State Government to host the North East Regional Trade Fair between 26th February – 3rd March, 2024 and called on all the subnational entities within the region to actively participate in the fair while inviting the nation, Africa and the world to come and experience the rich culture, tourism potentials, hospitality, and economic opportunities that abound in the region,” the statement added.
Forum also appraised the compliance of the states with the decision earlier taken at the eighth meeting in Maiduguri to domesticate the Education Law 2022, adding “as recommended by the North-East Education Council. It thus called on states that are yet to domesticate the Law to do so as a matter of strategic regional integration.”
