North-East Governors Warn of Flood Disaster, Food Crisis And Energy Poverty

Governors from Nigeria’s North-East have raised the alarm over what they described as looming humanitarian and economic threats confronting the region.

Meeting under the North-East Governors’ Forum in Jalingo, Taraba State, on Saturday, the leaders warned of severe flooding and a possible food crisis if urgent action is not taken. The communiqué issued at the close of their 12th meeting highlighted climate risks, rising agricultural costs, and energy poverty as major concerns.

Forum Chairman and Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, noted that weather predictions for the coming months point to dangerous flood levels. According to the communiqué, “The Forum took into cognizance the forecast of credible agencies on climate risk and the impending flood disaster in the subregion. We call for proactive measures to confront the flood and robust sensitisation of settlers along the flood plains.”

The governors also called on the Federal Government and the North-East Development Commission to rebuild critical infrastructure destroyed in past disasters. Bridges, in particular, were identified as urgent priorities.

On food security, the leaders expressed worry about the soaring prices of farm inputs, which they fear could reduce yields in the next farming season. “Forum decries the high cost of agricultural inputs which might have direct negative consequences on farm outputs next year. To avert an impending food crisis, it calls for more subsidies to farmers and robust preparation for dry season farming,” the communiqué stated.

Looking beyond the challenges, the governors announced that the North-East Trade Fair would take place in Maiduguri, Borno State, in December 2025, in partnership with the North-East Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

Energy concerns also featured prominently. The Forum resolved to step up efforts to close the region’s energy gap, declaring, “Forum recommits to subduing energy poverty by tasking the Committee on Power and Energy in the subregion to come up with an integrated subregional Power Masterplan.”