North-East Governors Plan Master Plan to Address Energy Deficit

The North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has embarked on a new, collaborative initiative to address the critical issue of energy poverty in the region. At the conclusion of their 12th meeting in Jalingo, Taraba State, the governors announced their decision to develop a comprehensive, integrated subregional master plan to tackle the perennial power deficit.

The chairman of the forum and Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, emphasized that the North-East cannot continue to rely on fragmented and individual state efforts to solve a problem of regional magnitude. “We must design a coordinated master plan that leverages renewable energy and other opportunities available to us as a bloc,” he stated.

According to a communique issued after the meeting, the governors, representing Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states, noted that the region has the least access to electricity in the country. Reports from various energy organizations corroborate this, with some data suggesting that over 71% of households in the North-East lack access to grid electricity. This lack of stable power has been a major constraint on economic growth, industrialization, and agricultural mechanization in a region still grappling with the effects of a protracted insurgency.

The governors have tasked their Committee on Power and Energy to produce a detailed blueprint for the master plan, which is expected to focus heavily on renewable energy. The region’s abundant sunshine makes solar power a key priority, described by the governors as a “low-hanging fruit” that can quickly be harnessed to provide electricity for homes and businesses.

The resolution signals a renewed commitment by the NEGF to address a fundamental challenge that has long been a root cause of poverty and underdevelopment. By working together on a regional scale, the governors aim to attract a broader range of investments and technical expertise, ensuring a more sustainable and equitable electricity supply for the millions of residents across the six states. The plan, once finalized, is expected to serve as a roadmap for accelerated development and peacebuilding in the region.