North-East governors agree to establish regional air shuttle
Governors from Nigeria’s six North-East states have resolved to establish a regional air shuttle to improve the movement of people and goods. They also plan to expand CNG and LNG stations with Green Ville Energy, while welcoming federal support for electric tricycles, buses and taxis.
Governors from Nigeria’s six North-East states have agreed to establish a regional air shuttle aimed at making travel and the movement of goods across the subregion faster and easier. The decision was contained in a communiqué issued on Saturday after the 13th meeting of the North-East Governors’ Forum in Maiduguri, Borno State. The forum comprises Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.
The communiqué, signed by the forum’s chairman, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, said the proposed shuttle would support inter- and intra-regional transport. The governors did not provide details on the proposed service’s routes, ownership or launch date. The forum also agreed to partner with Green Ville Energy to establish more compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas stations in the region.
The governors said the expansion would help reduce transport costs, strengthen logistics and support economic activity. They welcomed federal government support, through the North-East Development Commission, for 10,000 electric tricycles, 10 electric buses and 300 electric taxis. The vehicles are expected to be launched in October, according to the communiqué.
On infrastructure, the governors commended federal attention to the Port Harcourt-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Maiduguri rail corridor and the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri highway. They also welcomed frontier oil exploration at Kolmani. The forum urged the Federal Government to revive stalled oil exploration in Magumeri and Gubio local government areas of Borno.
It renewed its call for completion of the Mambila Hydropower Project and said states should use the new electricity law, sunlight and mini-grid systems to expand power supply.
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