GEJ, Governor Bala Mohammed Return from Gambia After High-Level Governance Engagement

Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Democratic Development in Africa

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, and former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, have returned to Nigeria following their participation in a high-level regional engagement in The Gambia aimed at promoting democratic governance and regional cooperation in West Africa.

According to Lawal Muazu Bauchi, Governor Mohammed’s New Media Aide, the visit was part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and support good governance initiatives across the Sahel region.

Governor Mohammed was a key member of the delegation led by Dr. Jonathan and took an active role in the Sahel Regional Forum, where he featured as a distinguished panelist on Day Two of the event. He participated in the High-Level Governance Panel themed “Governance for Prosperity — From Potential to Shared Prosperity for the People of the Sahel.”

The session examined the region’s enormous natural and human resource wealth—ranging from gold, oil, and critical minerals to transboundary water bodies such as Lake Chad and the Niger River—and interrogated why these assets have not translated into sustainable development and prosperity for the people.

During his contribution, Governor Mohammed emphasized the urgent need for transformational leadership, institutional integrity, and active citizen engagement as key pillars for unlocking the Sahel’s development potential. He highlighted governance challenges, weak institutions, and poor resource management as major obstacles to progress in the region.

“Transparent economic governance, equitable resource management, and inclusive development are essential to overcoming the crisis of poverty and insecurity plaguing the Sahel,” the governor asserted.

He further advocated for bold economic reforms, the empowerment of young people, and robust anti-corruption frameworks. Governor Mohammed also called for improved cross-border collaboration, joint infrastructure development, and harmonized policies to tackle regional threats such as insecurity and illicit financial flows.

The forum brought together high-ranking officials from ECOWAS, the United Nations, and various international development partners, all united in their commitment to fostering prosperity and stability in the Sahel.

Governor Bala Mohammed’s participation, alongside his mentor and former President Jonathan, underscores Nigeria’s continuing leadership role in regional diplomacy and democratic consolidation across West Africa.