North-East governors commit ₦10.8bn toward regional air shuttle
Nigeria’s North-East Governors’ Forum says it has raised ₦10.8 billion in counterpart funding for a proposed regional air shuttle. Borno Governor Babagana Zulum said the remaining contributions were expected before the end of the month, allowing the states to move toward launching operations and developing the planned North East Airline.
The North-East Governors’ Forum has raised ₦10.8 billion in counterpart funding for a proposed regional air shuttle, according to Borno Governor Babagana Zulum. Zulum disclosed the figure on Friday at the opening of the forum’s 10th meeting in Maiduguri. He said the remaining counterpart contributions from the six member states were expected before the end of the month, with the aim of starting flight operations soon.
“The establishment of the North East Air Shuttle is a significant step towards improving connectivity within the sub-region,” Zulum said. He urged Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe to consolidate their commitments and work together to ensure a smooth launch. The proposed service is part of a wider regional development agenda discussed by the governors.
Zulum said improved air links would support connectivity among the six states and contribute to the longer-term plan for a North East Airline. He also highlighted federal economic initiatives, including renewed oil exploration at the Kolmani oilfield in Bauchi State. Zulum said the project could generate jobs, support infrastructure development and expand the revenue base of host communities, and urged exploration in other prospective locations in the region.
The governor described a proposed $1 billion Household Prosperity and Economic Social Protection Project for the North-East as important for a region recovering from insurgency, displacement and humanitarian dependence. He said the region should move from relief to recovery and then to sustainable prosperity. Other initiatives mentioned at the meeting included plans for 10-megawatt solar power plants in each member state, livestock modernisation and the development of agricultural storage and processing networks.
The North East Development Commission was also credited with procuring nearly 10,000 electric vehicles and electric tricycles. Zulum said security remained essential to economic transformation, healthcare and education, despite improvements attributed to the armed forces, cooperation among states and programmes including the Safe Corridor Initiative.
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