Banditry, Insurgency, Poverty: Northern Governors Call for Action
Northern governors and stakeholders have renewed their commitment to addressing banditry, insurgency, and poverty in the region, calling for urgent collective action.
Speaking at the 11th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture and Merit Awards in Bauchi on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, alongside Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, emphasized the need for regional cooperation to tackle insecurity and economic hardship.
Governor Yahaya highlighted the diverse security threats confronting different parts of the North, pointing out that “banditry and kidnapping plague the Northwest, ethno-religious crises persist in the North-Central, while insurgency continues to destabilize the Northeast.”
He attributed many of these conflicts to competition over scarce resources, stressing the need for tailored solutions that align with a shared regional development vision.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of unity in addressing the North’s challenges. “We must foster collaboration across all divides to confront our common adversaries,” he stated.
Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, who served as the guest speaker, pointed to the region’s untapped natural resources as a key to resolving many of its socio-economic issues. “If effectively harnessed, these resources can transform our economy,” he said.
Mukhtar recalled a time when agriculture was the backbone of Northern Nigeria’s economy, providing sustenance and employment to over 70% of the population. He urged the adoption of modern technologies and sustainable farming practices to boost productivity, ensure food security, and create jobs.
Governor Yahaya reiterated the Northern Governors’ commitment to leveraging available resources for economic development, acknowledging that inadequate infrastructure, high unemployment, and persistent poverty remain major obstacles. “We must act collectively to tackle these challenges head-on,” he declared.
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