The North-East Governors’ Forum has reiterated its commitment to addressing the region’s energy deficit by developing an integrated subregional power masterplan.
Rising from its 12th meeting held in Jalingo, Taraba State, on Saturday, the forum, which comprises the governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states, disclosed that energy poverty remained a critical challenge that must be urgently addressed.
Building on earlier resolutions to explore renewable energy, particularly solar power, the governors directed their Committee on Power and Energy to draw up a comprehensive blueprint for sustainable electricity supply across the six states.
“While building on the early commitment of exploring solar options as a low-hanging fruit, the forum recommits to subduing energy poverty by tasking the Committee on Power and Energy in the subregion to come up with an integrated subregional power masterplan,” the communique read.
The Chairman of the Forum, who doubles as the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, stressed the importance of regional collaboration in overcoming power shortages that have slowed down economic development in the North East.
According to Zulum, “The North-East cannot continue to rely on fragmented efforts in power generation and distribution. We must design a coordinated master plan that leverages renewable energy and other opportunities available to us as a bloc.”
The governors stressed that access to a stable electricity supply would accelerate industrialisation, improve agriculture through mechanisation, and enhance the quality of life for millions of residents in the region.
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