Northern governors raise concerns over rising cost of agricultural inputs, threat to food production

•Envisage worsened farm output in 2026

The North-East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) has raised concerns over the rising cost of agricultural inputs, warning that the trend could threaten food production and worsen farm outputs in 2026.

This was disclosed in a communique issued at the end of the forum’s 12th meeting, chaired by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, on Saturday in Jalingo.

The governors urged the federal government to provide more subsidies to farmers and ensure early preparations for dry-season farming in order to avert a looming food crisis.

While acknowledging gains made in the fight against insurgency, the forum noted that the region continued to grapple with severe humanitarian and infrastructural challenges.

The communique also highlighted concerns about climate risks and possible flooding across the subregion, calling for proactive measures, including sensitisation of communities living along floodplains.

The governors therefore appealed for urgent support from the federal government and the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) to rebuild critical infrastructure, particularly damaged bridges.

The forum further resolved to host the North-East Trade Fair in collaboration with partners in Maiduguri, Borno State, in December 2025.

“The forum acknowledges the appreciable success recorded in the onslaught against the insurgency in the region, but regrets that the subregion is still confronted with daunting humanitarian and infrastructural challenges.

“The forum took into cognisance the forecast of the credible agencies on climate risk and the impending flood disaster in the subregion.

“It therefore calls for proactive measures in confronting the flood and massive sensitisation of settlers along the flood plains.

“It also called for support from both the federal government and the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) to reconstruct the broken infrastructure, especially bridges.

“The forum agrees to hold the North-East Trade fair in partnership with other organisations in Maiduguri, Borno, in December 2025,” it stated.

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On energy, the NEGF tasked its Power and Energy Committee to develop an integrated subregional masterplan, with a focus on harnessing solar energy as a low-cost option.

“While building on the early commitment of exploring solar options as a low-hanging fruit, the forum recommits to coming up with an integrated subregional power Masterplan,” the communique added.

The forum comprises the governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe States.