By Abdullahi Inuwa
Yobe State Governor and host of the 11th North East Governors Forum (NEGF) meeting, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, CON, COMN, has issued a clarion call to his counterparts in the region, urging them to strengthen collaboration and intensify efforts to tackle the resurgence of insecurity threatening lives, livelihoods, and development across the North East.
Governor Buni made the remarks while addressing fellow Governors from Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, and Bauchi States at the opening session of the NEGF meeting held in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
“The North East has come a long way in recovering from the decade-long insurgency that devastated our region,” Governor Buni said. “However, the recent resurgence of security challenges, including banditry, kidnappings, and farmer-herder clashes, calls for urgent and collective action. We must intensify synergy and foster a united front to halt these threats before they reverse the hard-won gains we have made.”
Buni emphasized the importance of intelligence-sharing, joint operations, and harmonized policies across state borders to effectively combat insecurity. He noted that criminal elements exploit gaps in inter-state coordination, stressing that only a unified regional approach would yield sustainable peace.
“We must go beyond meetings and translate our resolutions into concrete, measurable actions. It is only through genuine cooperation and shared responsibility that we can guarantee the safety of our people,” he added.
The NEGF meeting comes at a critical time, as communities across the North East continue to grapple with the lingering impact of Boko Haram insurgency, as well as emerging threats posed by criminal gangs and economic hardship. In addition to security, the forum is expected to deliberate on pressing regional concerns such as food insecurity, youth unemployment, infrastructural deficits, and the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
In their goodwill messages, the participating governors echoed Governor Buni’s call for unity. Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum highlighted the need for greater federal support and local empowerment strategies, while Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas stressed the importance of integrating traditional leaders and community stakeholders in peacebuilding efforts.
Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya advocated for increased investments in education and technology as tools for long-term security, while Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed reaffirmed his state’s commitment to cross-border collaboration.
The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge by all six governors to align their policies and pool resources in the fight against insecurity. A communiqué is expected to outline a set of coordinated action points to be implemented across the region.
As host, Governor Buni expressed optimism that the 11th NEGF meeting would serve as a catalyst for actionable change, urging all governors to move from rhetoric to results.
“The future of our region depends on the decisions we make today. Let us act with courage, unity, and purpose to build a safer, more prosperous North East,” he concluded.
The NEGF remains a vital platform for regional integration, peer review, and policy coordination among the six North East states of Nigeria.
Abdullahi Inuwa Social Commentator ainuwa303@gmail.com
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