Northern Governors, traditional rulers meet over rising insecurity, demand urgent action

Governors of the 19 Northern states, under the umbrella of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), on Saturday met with members of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council to address escalating security challenges plaguing the region.

The high-level meeting, held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna, witnessed a strong turnout, with 14 governors in attendance and five others represented. Governors present included Zamfara’s Dauda Lawal, Kaduna’s Senator Uba Sani, Gombe’s Muhammadu Yahaya, Jigawa’s Umar Namadi, Kebbi’s Nasir Idris, Adamawa’s Ahmed Fintiri, Taraba’s Kefas Agbu, Nasarawa’s Abdullahi Sule, Yobe’s Mai Mala Buni, Niger’s Mohammed Bago, Sokoto’s Ahmed Aliyu, Plateau’s Caleb Mutfwang, Katsina’s Dikko Radda, and Kogi’s Ahmed Ododo.

Governors of Borno, Kwara, Kano, Benue, and Bauchi were represented by their deputies or senior officials.

Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, while addressing the joint session, called for coordinated regional action to stem the tide of insecurity and foster development.

“We must work together to address the security challenges facing our region. It’s imperative that we enhance our security measures to protect our citizens and ensure their safety,” Yahaya said.

He expressed condolences to residents of Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, and Yobe over recent attacks, urging the federal government to overhaul existing security strategies. He called for improved synergy among federal, state, and local security systems to curb the resurgence of Boko Haram in the North-East and violent attacks in North-Central states.

Commending President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to national security, Yahaya nonetheless stressed the need for more efficient and region-specific strategies. He also praised recent federal-level efforts to resolve tax policy issues through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the National Economic Council, and the National Assembly.

On infrastructure, Yahaya decried the poor state of critical projects in the region, including the long-neglected Port Harcourt–Maiduguri rail line and the Kano–Maiduguri expressway. He called for innovative funding models such as public-private partnerships and infrastructure bonds to fill existing gaps.

The governor also emphasised revamping the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC), urging restructuring, competent leadership, and oversight to reposition it as a vehicle for regional economic revival.

He highlighted the Almajiri issue and youth unemployment as urgent concerns, stressing the need for quality education and vocational training to harness human capital and reduce social unrest.

Touching on climate-related issues and frequent farmer-herder clashes, Yahaya called for regional cooperation on environmental sustainability. He also acknowledged the traditional rulers’ crucial role in conflict resolution and social cohesion.

“Tangible impact on people’s lives is what will be remembered, not the number of meetings held,” he concluded, urging governors to prioritise action over rhetoric.

Kaduna State Governor and host, Senator Uba Sani, in his address, applauded President Tinubu’s focus on Northern infrastructure, specifically hailing the revival of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano dual carriageway.

“Mr. President will go down in history as the leader who listened to the cries of the Northern people and took decisive action,” Sani declared.

Describing the road as a lifeline that connects the Federal Capital Territory to 12 states across North Central, North West, and North East zones, Sani emphasized its strategic importance to national integration.

He called on his fellow governors to urgently devise and implement a clear roadmap for security, peace, governance, and development in the region.

“We don’t have the luxury of time. Our people want results,” he said.

Sani also commended the leadership of Governor Yahaya and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, for their commitment to regional progress.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for unity, urgency, and accountability in tackling Northern Nigeria’s mounting challenges.