Governors from the 19 northern states of Nigeria gathered in Kaduna to discuss growing security concerns in the region.
The meeting also included members of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, comprising emirs and chiefs.
Fourteen governors were present, including leaders from Zamfara, Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Adamawa, Taraba, Nasarawa, Yobe, Niger, Sokoto, Plateau, Katsina, and Kogi. Governors from Borno, Kwara, Kano, Benue, and Bauchi were represented by deputies.
At the meeting, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, who chairs the Northern Governors’ Forum, called for more coordinated efforts to tackle security challenges. He highlighted the resurgence of Boko Haram activities in the northeast and the violence in the north-central region, urging the federal government to reconsider its security approach.
Yahaya stressed the importance of collaboration between federal, state, and local forces to improve security.
Yahaya expressed his condolences to the affected families in Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, and Yobe, where recent violent incidents resulted in fatalities.
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to security but pointed out the need for more effective strategies.
The governor also discussed infrastructure issues, citing neglected projects like the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line and the Kano-Maiduguri expressway.
He proposed using public-private partnerships and infrastructure bonds to address these gaps.
The governor emphasized the role of education and vocational skills in empowering youth, suggesting that these efforts could address the Almajiri problem and provide opportunities for young people.
He also mentioned the need for solutions to farmer-herder conflicts and climate-related challenges, urging collective action on these fronts.
Yahaya praised the traditional institutions for their role in maintaining peace and encouraged ongoing cooperation between the government and these bodies.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna, who hosted the event, also voiced strong support for President Tinubu’s efforts, particularly in addressing infrastructure deficits.
He commended the president for reviving the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway project, which connects several northern states to the Federal Capital Territory.
Sani called for a comprehensive roadmap to tackle security, governance, and development issues in the region, stressing the urgency of implementing concrete plans.
Leave a Reply