BY NONYELUM EKWENUGO
Kaduna
The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has said that economic development remains long-term solution to security challenges in the north.
The Chairman of the Forum, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya who is also the governor of Gombe State said this on Tuesday during his speech at the NSGF meeting in Kaduna.
“Economic development is paramount to our region’s prosperity. We consider economic development as the long-term solution to our security challenges”.
“Security remain top on our agenda. During our last meeting, we reaffirmed our willingness to work with the Federal Government in order to provide lasting solutions to the security challenges bedevilling our region.
“Since then, we have had various engagements with the National Security Adviser, service chiefs, coalition of northern civil society groups, and other relevant stakeholders on charting a way forward for sustainable peace and stability in northern Nigeria. As the nation continues to deliberate on the issue of state police, it is important that we begin to explore state policing models that are built on the foundation of cooperation and collaboration amongst our northern states”
According to the forum, human capital development is very critical to the progress and prosperity of our region.
“It is deeply troubling that northern Nigeria currently bears the burden of the highest number of out-of-school children in the world. This is an unacceptable reality that we must urgently address. Every child deserves access to quality education and the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to succeed in today’s rapidly changing global economic landscape”.
“As leaders, we have a moral obligation to invest massively in education and skills development, healthcare, and social services in order to unlock the full potential of our youth and empower future generations”.
“Regional integration remains a cornerstone of our collective vision for a prosperous northern region. Let us deepen our collaborations in infrastructure development, human capital enhancement, trade, security cooperation, and cultural exchange. Together, we can unlock the full potentials of our region and ensure inclusive growth and shared prosperity in the ever-competitive Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the governor of Kaduna State, Sen. Uba Sani urged the forum to restrategize on forging a common approach to the development of the north.
“I urge us to re-strategize and come to a conclusion on forging a common approach to the development of Northern Nigeria. We have been working assiduously in our respective states to address our developmental challenges, but the disturbing development indices in Northern Nigeria requires a collective and sustained effort.
“We need to fashion a Marshall Plan for the development of Northern Nigeria. Let us pull resources together to develop our Road, Rail, Solid minerals and Energy Infrastructure. Agriculture is another key area we can pull resources together to reinvent the economy of Northern Nigeria”.
“Today’s meeting, dear colleagues, affords us an opportunity to look at our successes and challenges so far in the war against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping and fashion new strategies for a final push against these enemies of development. It is for this reason, dear colleagues, that I wish to reiterate my earlier call for Northern States to develop a Common Strategy and Operational Plan to tackle insecurity. Let us establish a Command and Control Centre to coordinate our joint efforts”.
