BY NONYELUM JULIET
Kaduna
The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), the traditional rulers and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa on Monday met in Kaduna to discuss critical issues affecting the region.
The meeting was part of NSGF’s efforts to engage with key stakeholders and address pressing concerns, especially the lingering insecurity, poverty, out-of-school children, blackout and other socio-economic challenges ravaging the region.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman NSGF, Inuwa Yahaya the governor of Gombe State said “Our collective resolve is being tested by the ongoing challenges that we face. These include but not limited to terrorism, banditry, kidnap-for-ransom, farmer-herder clashes, drug abuse, the menace of Almajiri and out-of-school children, poverty and unemployment. However, our unity and commitment to the prosperity of the people remain our greatest source of strength that will enable us to overcome those challenges”.
According him, security remains a top priority for the region, we must acknowledge the recent gains made against criminals, especially the elimination of bandits and terror leaders.
“As we speak today, most of our Northern States are in darkness due to vandalization of electricity transmission infrastructure. This not only underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, but also the need to build additional transmission lines and diversify our energy supply so as to better connect our region and improve our energy resilience”.
He noted that “End Bad Governance” protests served as a wake-up call for all northern leaders, adding that youth restiveness is a growing concern, driven by illiteracy, poverty, and lack of economic opportunities.
He added that northern leaders must scale up efforts to tackle the root causes of youth restiveness by investing in education, skills development, and job creation.
“Let us focus on creating pathways for the youth to channel their energy into productive ventures, thereby reducing their vulnerability to crime and social vices”.
According to him, economic hardship faced by many Nigerians today is even more pronounced in northern Nigeria, hence, need for urgent intervention.
“We must provide adequate support to our farmers, including access to financing, modern farming techniques, and infrastructure such as roads and irrigation systems. Furthermore, ensuring the security of rural areas is crucial so that farmers can return to their fields without fear. Agriculture should not only be seen as a means to feed our people but also as a catalyst for industrialization and job creation across the region”.
He however, noted that the recent flood incidents in many parts of the North serve as a sobering reminder of the urgent need to implement effective mitigation measures.
“We must adopt policies that promote environmental conservation, sustainable agricultural practices, and responsible resource management. Moreover, the deterioration of our environment exacerbates communal conflicts, particularly between farmers and herders, further threatening the stability of our communities”
“To achieve this, we must partner with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to build irrigation infrastructure like canals and waterways to divert excess water and channel them towards irrigation activities, thus enhancing rural livelihoods and safeguarding food security”.
The meeting had in attendance the governors of Kaduna, Gombe, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Borno, Bauchi, Kwara, Adamawa States and deputy governors from other Northern States.
Traditional rulers in attendance include; the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Saad; Shehu of Borno, Umar El-Kanemi; Emir of Zazzau, Nuhu Bamali; Ohinoyi of Ebira land, Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar, Emir of Kazaure, Emir of Bauchi were also at the meeting.
