The North-East Governors’ Forum has called on the Federal Government to revisit oil exploration activities in Borno State, particularly in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas, as part of a wider push to strengthen economic development across the region.

The request was made at the Forum’s 13th regular meeting in Maiduguri, where the governors also highlighted energy, transportation, infrastructure, employment and education as key areas requiring continued attention.

Key Takeaways

• North-East governors want the Federal Government to revisit suspended oil exploration activities in Magumeri and Gubio.
• The Forum commended President Bola Tinubu for renewed attention to the Kolmani oil exploration project in Gombe State.
• Major rail, road and energy projects were identified as important parts of the region’s development agenda.
• The governors also discussed electricity expansion, CNG and LNG infrastructure, electric transportation and a proposed regional air shuttle.
• Education, vocational training, entrepreneurship and technology-based employment were highlighted as priorities for the region’s large youth population.
• The Forum’s next meeting is scheduled for December 18 and 19, 2026, in Gombe State.

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Governors Want Borno Oil Exploration Revisited

The request for renewed exploration in Borno emerged from the communiqué issued after the governors’ two-day meeting, which was held from October 2 to 3, 2026, at the Borno State Government House in Maiduguri.

Reading the communiqué, the Forum’s Vice Chairman and Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, called on the Federal Government to revisit exploration activities that had previously commenced in Magumeri and Gubio but were later suspended.

The appeal puts Borno’s oil exploration prospects back into the wider conversation about economic development in the North-East.

The governors did not limit their discussions to oil. Instead, the exploration request formed part of a broader development agenda covering energy supply, transport infrastructure, economic opportunities and human capital.

Why The Oil Request Matters To The Region

The governors’ call places renewed attention on the possibility of restarting exploration activities that had already been initiated in parts of Borno.

The source material does not provide estimates of reserves, projected production, investment levels or potential revenue from the exploration activities. It is therefore too early to attach specific economic outcomes to the request.

What is clear from the communiqué is that the governors view energy development as part of a wider strategy for improving economic activity across the North-East.

The Forum also commended President Tinubu over renewed attention to the Kolmani oil exploration project in Gombe State, another energy development highlighted during the meeting.

Infrastructure Remains Central To The Development Agenda

Beyond oil exploration, the governors highlighted several major infrastructure projects that they believe are important to the region’s development.

Among them is the Port Harcourt-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Maiduguri rail corridor, which would connect several states across the country and extend transportation links into the North-East.

The governors also highlighted the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri highway.

Together with the proposed regional transport initiatives, the projects formed part of the Forum’s broader discussion about improving the movement of people and goods.

Better connectivity is particularly relevant to regional commerce because transportation infrastructure can influence how easily people, goods and businesses move between economic centres.

However, the communiqué itself does not provide projected economic returns or quantify how much transportation costs could fall once individual projects are completed.

Energy Plans Extend Beyond Oil

Electricity was another major part of the governors’ discussions.

The Forum commended member states for adopting a regional energy plan and highlighted the contribution of the Dadinkowa hydropower plant to the national electricity grid.

The governors also encouraged states to make use of the new electricity law and the region’s solar potential to develop additional mini-grid projects.

The Forum further called for faster completion of the Mambila Hydropower Plant, following the resolution of legal issues surrounding the project through an arbitration ruling.

These measures place electricity access alongside oil exploration as part of the region’s broader energy-development priorities.

CNG, LNG And Electric Transport Plans

The governors also disclosed a partnership with Green Ville Energy aimed at establishing additional Compressed Natural Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas stations across the region.

The objective, according to the Forum’s communiqué, is to help reduce transportation costs and support economic activity.

The Forum also acknowledged the Federal Government and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for providing 10,000 electric tricycles, 10 electric buses and 300 electric taxis.

The vehicles are expected to be launched in October, according to the communiqué.

In another transportation initiative, the governors announced plans to establish a regional air shuttle service to improve the movement of people and goods between states in the North-East.

Jobs, Education And Youth Development

The governors also linked the region’s economic future to its large youth population.

They identified education, vocational training, entrepreneurship and technology-based employment as areas requiring greater attention.

The Forum called on the NEDC to increase investment in education, release long-awaited scholarship awards for students from poor backgrounds and work toward reducing the number of out-of-school children.

It also urged greater support for Tsangaya education.

These issues broaden the development discussion beyond physical infrastructure. The governors are also seeking investment in skills, education and opportunities that can improve young people’s participation in the economy.

Security Remains An Economic Challenge

Although the meeting acknowledged progress by security agencies in the fight against insurgency, the Forum said serious humanitarian and infrastructure challenges remained in the region.

The governors pledged to strengthen intelligence sharing and cooperation among member states.

They also linked efforts to address economic and social difficulties with the need to reduce the vulnerability of young people to recruitment by extremist groups.

For the North-East’s development plans, security remains an important consideration because major infrastructure, energy and business initiatives depend on an environment where people and goods can move safely.

The communiqué, however, does not provide figures showing the specific economic cost of insecurity or quantify the effect of improved security on investment.

What The Regional Development Plan Could Mean

Taken together, the issues raised at the meeting show that the North-East Governors’ Forum is pursuing a broad development agenda rather than focusing on a single project.

Oil exploration in Borno and the Kolmani project represent the energy component.

Railways and highways address regional connectivity, while electricity, solar mini-grids and hydropower form part of the power agenda.

CNG and LNG stations, electric vehicles and the proposed air shuttle add another layer focused on transportation.

Education, vocational training, entrepreneurship and technology-based employment address the region’s human-capital needs.

The combined approach suggests that the governors are looking at economic development through several interconnected areas. The success of individual projects, however, will depend on implementation, funding, completion and the ability of governments to turn announced plans into operational infrastructure and services.

What Happens Next?

The immediate issue is whether the Federal Government will act on the Forum’s request to revisit oil exploration in Magumeri and Gubio.

The governors are also looking toward continued progress on the infrastructure and energy projects highlighted in the communiqué.

The Forum’s next regular meeting is scheduled to hold in Gombe State on December 18 and 19, 2026.

That meeting could provide another opportunity for the governors to assess progress on the projects and regional initiatives discussed in Maiduguri.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the North-East Governors ask the Federal Government to do?

They called on the Federal Government to revisit oil exploration activities that had previously commenced in Magumeri and Gubio Local Government Areas of Borno State but were later suspended.

What oil project did the governors praise President Tinubu for supporting?

The Forum commended President Bola Tinubu for renewed attention to the Kolmani oil exploration project in Gombe State.

What infrastructure projects did the governors highlight?

They highlighted the Port Harcourt-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Maiduguri rail corridor and the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri highway, among other regional development initiatives.

What did the governors say about electricity?

They commended the regional energy plan and the contribution of the Dadinkowa hydropower plant, while encouraging states to develop more solar-powered mini-grids.

What transportation initiatives were announced?

The Forum discussed CNG and LNG stations, electric tricycles, electric buses, electric taxis and plans for a regional air shuttle service.

When is the next North-East Governors’ Forum meeting?

The next meeting is scheduled for December 18 and 19, 2026, in Gombe State.

Conclusion

The North-East Governors’ Forum has placed renewed oil exploration in Borno alongside a much broader regional economic-development agenda.

While the request to revisit activities in Magumeri and Gubio is the immediate development, the governors’ communiqué also points to wider priorities involving energy, transport infrastructure, electricity, education, employment and youth development.

The next stage will depend on how the Federal Government and the individual states respond to the requests and how the various projects progress from plans and commitments toward implementation.

What do you think should receive the greatest priority in the North-East — oil exploration, transportation, electricity, education or job creation? Share your view in the comments.

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