Governors and traditional rulers from the 19 northern states have converged on the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna to deliberate on the worsening insecurity and deepening socio-economic challenges facing the region.
The high-level meeting, convened under the auspices of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), is being chaired by the Governor of Gombe State and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya.
The NSGF Chairman, in his opening address, set the tone for the crucial meeting with a passionate and candid speech that laid bare the region’s most pressing challenges.
According to a press statement signed by Ismaila Misilli, Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House Gombe which was obtained by PERISCOPE NIGERIA in Gombe.
He stressed the need for collective wisdom and urgent action to arrest the spiraling security crisis and human development setbacks confronting northern Nigeria.
While condemning the recent spate of killings in Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, and Yobe States Yahaya added, “Insecurity remains our most urgent concern.”
He called for an immediate review of existing security strategies and improved synergy between federal, state, and local security institutions to restore peace and protect citizens.
Beyond the issue of security, Governor Inuwa Yahaya highlighted the alarming number of out-of-school children, growing poverty levels, and a fragile economic base as issues demanding swift, coordinated responses.
He emphasized the need to revamp critical regional assets such as the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) and invest in youth empowerment, education, and vocational training to lift the region out of poverty and dependency.
The governor also expressed concern over the neglect of key infrastructure projects in the North and advocated for alternative financing options, including public-private partnerships, to drive development.
He acknowledged the strategic role of traditional rulers in governance and peacebuilding, calling for a constitutional role for the traditional institution to enhance its effectiveness in resolving conflicts and maintaining social harmony.
“As leaders, we must rise above individual interests and deliver results that improve the lives of our people. The North is watching, and history will judge us by the impact we make, not just the resolutions we pass,” Yahaya charged his colleagues and royal fathers.
Deliberations are ongoing behind closed doors, with a communique expected at the end of the session.
