MAIDUGURI — The six member states of the North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) have pooled $\text{N}10.8\text{ billion}$ in joint counterpart funding to facilitate the takeoff of a regional air shuttle service, marking a major operational step toward establishing a dedicated “North East Airline”.
The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, made the announcement in Maiduguri during the opening ceremony of the 10th meeting of the NEGF.
The pooled funding—contributed across Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states—is designated to acquire dedicated aircraft and establish seamless inter-state flight schedules connecting commercial hubs, administrative centers, and industrial corridors across the sub-region.
Addressing state chief executives, federal officials, and regional delegates, Governor Zulum emphasized that improving intra-regional air connectivity is vital for lowering transport overheads, boosting commerce, and accelerating the transition from humanitarian relief to long-term economic recovery following years of security disruptions.
The forum re-affirmed its commitment to unified infrastructure development, alongside complementary regional initiatives including 10-megawatt solar power installations per state, modernizing livestock value chains, and deploying electric mobility fleets to support sustainable economic growth across the sub-region.
