Military alone can’t solve Northeast crisis — Gov Zulum

Governors of Nigeria’s Northeast have said insecurity in the region cannot be resolved by military action alone, stressing the need for broader social and economic interventions.

Speaking at the 12th Northeast Governors’ Forum meeting in Taraba on Saturday, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, highlighted education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation as critical to restoring peace.

While commending President Bola Tinubu’s fight against insurgency, the governors noted that poverty, unemployment, and poor road networks continue to fuel unrest.

“We must reiterate our call for non-kinetic solutions to the challenges. This involves tackling youth unemployment through technical and vocational education, improving road networks, revitalising agriculture, boosting poverty alleviation, and strengthening security and healthcare,” Zulum said.

ALSO READ : Pay Lagos workers ₦150k — NLC tells govt

He further urged practical measures to attract both local and foreign investments, as well as the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises in the region.

The Forum also appealed to the Federal Government to provide support for investors willing to set up businesses in the Northeast.

Earlier, Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, called on the Forum to push the Northeast Development Commission to rebuild the Namai Bridge, which collapsed in August 2024, claiming several lives.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL

The governors acknowledged that the region still faces severe humanitarian and infrastructural challenges but reaffirmed their joint commitment to pursuing development-driven solutions.