News:The North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF), comprising the Governors of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe States—with the Governor of Bauchi State represented by his Deputy, convened its 11th meeting in Damaturu, Yobe State, on May 1, 2025. The Forum appreciated member states’ cooperation and reaffirmed its commitment to addressing regional concerns in security, social development, and economic integration. The Northeast Governors’ Forum adopted resolutions under the chairmanship of Professor Babagana Umara Zulum at the end of their meeting. 1. Support for Federal Security Efforts: The Forum commended the Federal Government’s efforts in enhancing national security and resolved to offer full collaboration and support in addressing emerging security challenges. 2. Concern Over Rising Insurgency: The Forum expressed concern over the increasing activities of insurgents in the region and urged the armed forces, security agencies, and community leaders to reassess and strengthen their counter-insurgency strategies. 3. Multidimensional Approach to Security: Acknowledging that security challenges require more than military responses, the Forum emphasized the need to address root causes such as youth unemployment, inadequate education, poor infrastructure, and poverty. It committed to adopting both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. 4. Infrastructure and Abandoned Projects: The Forum highlighted the negative impact of poor road networks on regional security and development. It called on the President to urgently address abandoned infrastructure projects critical to tackling poverty and underdevelopment. 5. Economic Diversification and Job Creation: The Forum renewed its commitment to opening the region to investment, enhancing agricultural productivity for food security, addressing climate change, promoting skills acquisition, and industrializing the subregion to reduce youth vulnerability to insurgent recruitment. 6. Enhanced Role of the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC): The Forum recognized the NEDC’s pivotal role and called for closer engagement with state governments to align development priorities, particularly in roads, education, and healthcare. It urged the Commission to recommit to its core mandate of rebuilding the region and to ensure timely project delivery. 7. Support for Legal Education: The Forum acknowledged the importance of the Nigerian Law School, Yola Campus, and resolved to support its expansion through the provision of additional hostels, improved water supply, and other essential facilities to enhance its training capacity. 8. Tackling Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Issues: The Forum resolved to collaborate with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) by providing office space in each state, supporting enrollment into formal education, and promoting vocational training. A unified regional strategy will be developed to address this issue. 9. Next Meeting: The next NEGF meeting is scheduled to be held from July 27 to 29, 2025, in Jalingo, Taraba State.