The North-East Governors Forum (NEGF) has raised the alarm over the rising cost of agricultural inputs in the country.
The governors expressed the concern on Saturday in a communiqué issued after the 12th meeting of the forum in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
The communiqué, signed by governor of Borno and chairman of the forum, Babagana Zulum, warned that the rising cost of agricultural inputs could trigger food shortages in 2026 if not urgently addressed.
The forum said the looming crisis can be mitigated by increasing subsidies for farmers and scaling up preparations for dry season farming.
“The forum acknowledges the appreciable success recorded in the onslaught against insurgency in the region, but regrets that the subregion is still confronted with daunting humanitarian and infrastructural challenges,” the communiqué reads.
The governors also expressed concern over looming floods in the region, citing forecasts from climate risk agencies.
They called for increased sensitisation of residents along floodplains and proactive steps to mitigate disasters.
The forum urged the federal government and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to prioritise the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, especially bridges destroyed by years of conflict and flooding.
