North-East governors have raised alarm over looming floods, food shortages and worsening energy poverty in the region, urging urgent intervention from the Federal Government.
The governors, under the North-East Governors’ Forum, issued the warning in a communiqué at the end of their 12th meeting held on Saturday in Jalingo, Taraba State.
Forum chairman and Borno State governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, said forecasts from credible agencies point to a serious flood disaster in the coming months.
“The Forum took into cognizance the forecast of credible agencies on climate risk and the impending flood disaster in the subregion. We call for proactive measures to confront the flood and robust sensitisation of settlers along the flood plains,” the communiqué stated.
They appealed to the Federal Government and the North-East Development Commission to move quickly in repairing critical infrastructure, especially bridges and roads destroyed by previous floods.
On agriculture, the governors expressed worry over rising input costs, saying this could cut farm yields and worsen food insecurity.
“Forum decries the high cost of agricultural inputs which might have direct negative consequences on farm outputs next year. To avert an impending food crisis, it calls for more subsidies to farmers and robust preparation for dry season farming,” the statement added.
The Forum also announced that the North-East Trade Fair will take place in Maiduguri, Borno State, in December 2025, in collaboration with the North-East Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
On power supply, the governors recommitted to tackling energy poverty in the zone, mandating its Committee on Power and Energy to produce an integrated subregional master plan.
The North-East remains one of the most vulnerable regions in Nigeria, heavily affected by insurgency, weak infrastructure, and extreme climate shocks such as desertification and floods.
