…. Zulum calls for Revival Borno’s oil field work
By: Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA — Leaders of the North East geopolitical zone gathered in Maiduguri on Saturday, October 3, 2026, for the 13th Meeting of the North East Governors Forum, focusing on transition strategies from humanitarian relief to long term economic sustainability. The summit, hosted at the Government House, Maiduguri Maiduguri , marked the beginning of the third cycle of regional consultations since the establishment of the body in March 2020.
Opening the session, the Executive Governor of Borno State and Chairman of the Forum, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, emphasized the evolution of the platform into a stable voice for regional development. Governor Zulum highlighted the progress made in security, crediting the non-kinetic strategies, community engagement, and the Safe Corridor programme alongside the sacrifices of the Armed Forces. He urged member states to channel these security improvements into economic productivity, specifically pointing to the one billion dollar Household Prosperity and Economic Social Protection Project as a pivotal tool for community self-reliance.
Turning to critical infrastructure, Professor Zulum called on the Federal Government to revive stalled energy exploration activities in the Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of Borno State, while welcoming renewed efforts at the Kolmani Oil Field in Bauchi State. On regional projects, he announced that Borno State had contributed 10.8 billion Naira and Gombe State 5 billion Naira toward the 15.8 billion Naira total raised so far for the North East Air Shuttle. He urged remaining member states to fulfill their financial pledges to launch the regional air network, while also emphasizing ongoing joint efforts in agriculture, modern livestock production, and the development of a 10 megawatt solar project across each member state.
Expanding on the broader economic vision, the Executive Governor of Gombe State and Chairman of the Northern Nigeria Governors Forum, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, reflected on the tangible outcomes achieved by the body over the past six years. Governor Yahaya noted that collaborative advocacy had secured key infrastructure interventions from the Federal Government, including the rehabilitation of the 99 kilometer Dikwa to Gamboru Ngala and Bama to Banki road corridors, alongside the adoption of the Akwanga to Maiduguri highway as a legacy project.
He stressed that the sub-region must now shift its focus to institutionalizing these wins through a dedicated Results and Delivery Unit, an infrastructure tracking dashboard, and a unified regional power master plan.
Governor Yahaya further revealed that the experience gained from the North East model is now guiding broader institutional reforms across all nineteen northern states. He outlined plans for the newly structured Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund to pool resources for regional peacebuilding, alongside the restructuring of the New Nigeria Development Company to drive commercial investment. Recognizing that five of the six current North East governors will complete their final terms before the 2027 general elections, he urged incoming administrations to preserve the institutional structures built by the forum, including the North East Education Council and shared security frameworks.
In his welcoming remarks, the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Honorable Bukar Tijani, acknowledged the forum as a policy pioneer whose decisions are frequently adopted across other geopolitical zones. Describing the North East as a diverse yet cohesive region spanning over 30 percent of the landmass of Nigeria, Honorable Tijani commended the Secretariats, the Technical Working Committees, and the Borno Elders Forum for providing continuous policy support. He expressed confidence that the strategic decisions reached during the Maiduguri summit would solidify the economic foundation of the sub-region for years to come.
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