Gombe State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), Inuwa Yahaya, has said that Boko Haram insurgency has been significantly weakened but has not been completely defeated.
Yahaya made the remarks on Saturday during the 13th meeting of the forum in Maiduguri, Borno State, where he reviewed the security and development challenges confronting the northern region.
“Boko Haram has been weakened but not defeated, and we still see attacks on our communities. Banditry and communal clashes are emerging as new threats,” the governor said.
He expressed concern that persistent insecurity had prevented many displaced residents from safely returning to their communities.
The governor also identified several major infrastructure and development projects that remain unrealised, including the Mambilla hydropower project, regional railway connections and broadband expansion.
He noted that the region continued to face significant challenges in healthcare and education, particularly with many children still out of school and health indicators remaining below national expectations.
Reflecting on the establishment of the North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) in Gombe in March 2020, Yahaya said the forum was created because the challenges facing the region could not be addressed by individual states acting alone.
“When we first met in Gombe, we did so out of necessity. The challenges confronting our region were greater than any one state could solve alone,” he said.
According to him, insecurity, banditry, cross-border crime, inadequate infrastructure, energy deficits and humanitarian challenges transcend state boundaries and require collective action.
Yahaya, however, highlighted progress recorded by the forum in areas including infrastructure, power generation, economic development, human capital and security.
He described the Kolmani exploration project as a major opportunity for the region but stressed that its potential must translate into production, employment and revenue.
The governor also called for responsible exploitation of the region’s mineral resources, warning against illegal mining.
“Our solid minerals must be mined legally and for the benefit of our people, not to fund criminality,” he said.
On human capital development, Yahaya urged the governors to confront the region’s challenges with honesty and renewed commitment.
“Too many of our children are still out of school, and our health indicators remain among the weakest in the country. We must be honest with ourselves and with our people. The challenges we set out to confront in 2020 have not gone away,” he said.
The meeting was also significant as the governors reflected on the progress and challenges of the forum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Five founding members of the North East Governors’ Forum — the governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Yobe states — are approaching the end of their constitutionally permitted two-term tenure, making the gathering an important occasion for assessment and discussions on leadership transition.
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