NORTH EAST GOVERNORS STORM JALINGO
Henry Agbu
The city of Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, is agog with excitement and anticipation as it plays host to the 12th meeting of the North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF).
For two days, from August 29 to 30, 2025, the usually serene city transforms into the epicenter of policy discourse, leadership camaraderie, and renewed hope for a region long tested by insecurity and underdevelopment.
From the moment the convoys of state leaders began to roll in, the air in Jalingo changed. Streets were alive with vibrant banners, security details took strategic positions, and the people lined corners with eager faces, waving in admiration as the governors arrived. It was not merely the coming together of six leaders from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states—it was the convergence of vision, will, and purpose.
This year’s hosting carries a special significance. Taraba, often described as “Nature’s Gift to the Nation,” is not only providing the warm hospitality it is known for, but also offering a symbolic reminder of the resilience of the northeast. In recent years, the forum has become more than just a meeting—it has evolved into a beacon of hope, an engine of collaboration, and a loud statement that the region is determined to chart its own destiny.
At the heart of the gathering are pressing issues: security, regional integration, food security, infrastructure development, climate change, and economic cooperation. Each governor arrives with the weight of his people’s expectations, but also with a shared determination to find common solutions. For the people of Jalingo, watching their city play host to such a historic convergence is a matter of pride. For the northeast, it is another reminder that progress is possible when leaders stand together.
As the forum unfolds, eyes across Nigeria will be fixed on Jalingo—not just for the discussions behind closed doors, but for the symbolism it radiates: that the northeast is not broken, that its leaders are united, and that its future is brighter when pursued together.
