The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, of Gombe State, has called for decisive action on insecurity, youth unemployment, and economic hardship facing the North, as northern governors and traditional rulers convened for a two-day meeting in Kaduna.
Addressing attendees, Yahaya expressed condolences to victims of recent flooding in Maiduguri and the tanker explosion in Jigawa, as well as families affected by terrorism and banditry across northern Nigeria.
He urged increased collaboration with the Federal Government to deliver essential relief and support to affected communities.
Governor Yahaya highlighted the region’s persistent challenges, including terrorism, kidnapping, and farmer-herder conflicts, emphasizing the need to strengthen security efforts and not become complacent.
According to Yahaya, “We cannot afford complacency. We must sustain gains against bandits and terrorists to ensure lasting peace. Recommendations from the Coalition of Northern Group’s Security Committee would be thoroughly examined.”
The governor also stressed the importance of addressing youth restiveness, linking it to illiteracy, poverty, and limited economic opportunities. He acknowledged recent “End Bad Governance” protests as a wake-up call for northern leaders, underscoring the need for increased investments in education, skills development, and job creation to channel youth energy into productive avenues.
Governor Yahaya voiced concerns over economic inequality between northern and southern Nigeria, calling for targeted welfare programs, support for small businesses, and policies that attract investment to the region. He also noted the urgent need to restore electricity in the northern states affected by vandalism of transmission infrastructure, and proposed diversifying the region’s energy supply to improve resilience.
Yahaya outlined agriculture as a pillar for northern economic recovery, advocating for increased support for farmers, rural infrastructure, and initiatives to enhance food security.
“Agriculture should not only feed our people but serve as a catalyst for industrialisation,” he said, noting plans to revive the textile industry and other agro-allied sectors.
On environmental issues, Yahaya highlighted the importance of flood control and sustainable practices, urging northern leaders to partner with federal agencies to build irrigation systems and prevent communal conflicts related to resource scarcity.
Yahaya however called for “cohesive, robust, and actionable plans” to address the region’s needs, stressing that the NSGF reforms and restructuring of the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) would provide a framework for northern economic revival. He also commended the host governor, Senator Uba Sani, for his hospitality and expressed hope for productive deliberations.
The meeting, attended by northern governors and traditional rulers, seeks to unify efforts across the region to address security, economic, and developmental challenges facing northern Nigeria.