Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Wednesday, led governors from the North East to a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting focused on key infrastructure and economic concerns in the region, including the completion of 17 major road projects and the resumption of oil exploration at Kolmani and Lake Chad frontier wells.

The governors present were Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Bala Muhammad (Bauchi), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa) and Agbu Kefas (Taraba).

Zulum, who chairs the North East Governors’ Forum, urged the president to prioritise the roads, including Kano–Maiduguri Road, Port Harcourt–Jos–Bauchi–Maiduguri Railway line, Bama–Mubi–Yola Road, Wukari–Jalingo–Yola Road, Bauchi–Gombe–Biu–Damaturu Road, Damaturu–Geidam Road, Gombe–Potiskum–Damaturu–Biu Road, Maiduguri–Monguno–Baga Road and Maiduguri–Ngala–Bama–Banki Road, among others.

He stressed that completing the projects would boost trade, agriculture, and security across the six states of the region.

The governors also requested renewed federal support for oil exploration in Kolmani and Lake Chad, which they said would help diversify the region’s economy and create jobs.

In his response, President Tinubu assured the delegation of his administration’s commitment to addressing infrastructure gaps and economic development in the North East.

Zulum leads N’East govs to Tinubu, demands urgent completion of 17 roads, oil exploration