Governors of Nigeria’s six Northeast states have called for a comprehensive review of strategies in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the region.
The call was made in a communiqué issued at the end of the 11th North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) meeting held Thursday in Damaturu, Yobe State. The governors expressed concern over the resurgence of insurgent activities and urged the armed forces, security agencies, and community leaders to reassess their approaches to counterinsurgency efforts.
While commending the Federal Government’s efforts to enhance national security, the Forum emphasized the need for a multidimensional approach that combines military action with tackling root causes such as youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, inadequate education, and poverty.
“The Forum is committed to supporting security interventions and addressing underlying factors that fuel insecurity,” the communiqué stated. The governors highlighted poor road networks as a contributor to insecurity and appealed to President Bola Tinubu to prioritize the completion of abandoned infrastructure projects critical to poverty reduction and regional development.
The Forum also reaffirmed its commitment to promoting investment, agricultural development, food security, climate change mitigation, skills acquisition, and industrialization to create employment and reduce youth vulnerability to insurgent recruitment.
Acknowledging the role of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), the governors urged the Commission to deepen engagement with state governments, prioritize transportation, education, and healthcare, and ensure timely delivery of ongoing projects.
The Forum pledged support for expanding the Nigerian Law School, Yola Campus, by enhancing its infrastructure to boost admission capacity. It also resolved to collaborate with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) to integrate out-of-school children into formal education and vocational training across the region.
The next NEGF meeting is scheduled for July 27–29, 2025, in Jalingo, Taraba State. Governors of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe attended the Damaturu meeting, while Bauchi State was represented by its deputy governor.
