Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has called for renewed unity and decisive action to confront escalating security and socio-economic challenges facing Northern Nigeria.
Speaking at the Joint Meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council on Monday in Kaduna, Yahaya said the region must demonstrate “extraordinary courage and collective responsibility” to safeguard its future.
He expressed concern over recent abductions in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Kano, Niger and Sokoto States, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe. He said the developments show that insecurity in the North has evolved into a national and existential threat.
The governor extended condolences to affected families and governments, and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the swift rescue of some kidnapped schoolchildren. He reaffirmed the Forum’s support for ongoing rescue operations.
“Without peace and security, there will be no politics to play, and no state or country to govern,” he said, warning that terrorists were deliberately targeting schools and farms in an attempt to cripple the region’s development.
Yahaya cautioned against divisive sentiments, stressing that insecurity affects all citizens irrespective of religion, ethnicity or social status. He noted that security personnel drawn from all parts of the country continue to make sacrifices in defence of national unity.
He pointed to poverty, illiteracy, climate pressures and poor infrastructure as underlying drivers of insecurity, adding that durable peace would remain elusive without investment in education, economic opportunities and key infrastructure.
One major concern raised at the meeting was the high number of out-of-school children in the North. Yahaya described the situation as “a stain on our collective conscience,” saying millions of unschooled children represent both a moral failure and a threat to long-term development.
“We must move beyond rhetoric. Every child must be in school, and every young person must be equipped for a productive future,” he said.
Reiterating the NSGF’s long-standing position, Yahaya again declared the North’s support for the creation of state police, saying the measure had become critical to addressing worsening insecurity. He commended President Tinubu’s directive asking the National Assembly to expedite relevant constitutional amendments and urged lawmakers to treat the matter as a priority.
He said sustainable peace requires contributions from all segments of society—traditional rulers, religious leaders, political officeholders, security agencies, the judiciary and citizens.
Yahaya said leaders would ultimately be judged not by projects commissioned but by their success in restoring peace and stability. “Now is not the time for politics; it is the time to ensure the very survival of the North and Nigeria at large,” he added.
In his welcome address, Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Uba Sani, said the North was at a defining moment and must adopt joint strategies to overcome security, economic and social challenges.
The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, commended the Forum for its renewed commitment to addressing the region’s challenges. He said traditional and religious institutions were fully aligned with efforts to strengthen security, social cohesion and citizens’ welfare.
A communiqué outlining immediate and long-term action plans for the region is expected at the end of the meeting.
