NNGF chair, Yahaya promises North oil production

The Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum has chosen Muhammadu Yahaya, the governor of Gombe State, to serve as its chairman.

During the forum’s meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, the 19 northern governors unanimously elected the governor.

Simon Lalong, the governor of Plateau State, steps down on May 29 and is replaced by Yahaya.

In his acceptance speech, which was made available by Ismaila Misilli, Director-General, Press Affairs, Gombe Government House, Yahaya pledged to repay the faith that his coworkers across party lines had placed in him.

He gave his fellow northern governors reassurance that he would work to build on the achievements of his predecessors in accordance with the goals of the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

“We will work hard to ensure that we catch up with the rest of the country, possibly with the developed parts of the world so that our people will feel the impact of good governance we all pursue,” he declared.

He expressed happiness over the start of oil drilling operations in the Lake Chad Basin, which has increased the number of drilling locations in the North to three.

For the benefit of the populace, the forum “will see to the actualization of the exploration of the large oil and gas deposits in the North.”

He claimed that in addition to oil and gas reserves, the North also contained solid minerals that could be used for everyone’s benefit.