The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has expressed deep concern over the escalating insecurity in Northern Nigeria, particularly the renewed Boko Haram attacks in the North-East and violent killings in the North-Central zone.
Speaking at a joint meeting with the Northern Traditional Rulers Council in Kaduna, NSGF Chairman and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive review of security strategies and stronger coordination among federal, state, and local security agencies.
“These mindless acts of violence against innocent citizens remind us of the urgent need to redouble our security efforts,” Yahaya said, offering condolences to the affected states: Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, and Yobe.
Key Points from the NSGF Address:
1. Insecurity and Violence
- The governors decried the resurgence of Boko Haram and inter-communal violence, urging a coordinated, multi-level security response.
- Traditional leaders were called upon to support community intelligence gathering and peace-building initiatives.
2. Tax Reform and Intergovernmental Dialogue
- Yahaya noted the tension that arose from proposed tax reform bills, but praised collaborative resolution efforts via the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), National Economic Council (NEC), and the National Assembly.
- He commended President Tinubu’s inclusive governance style, urging that dialogue and cooperation remain central to intergovernmental relations.
3. Infrastructure Deficit
- Despite acknowledging progress on major federal projects—like the Kaduna-Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, and AKK gas pipeline—the governors lamented neglect of key road and rail projects in the North.
- Notably excluded from the federal superhighway project were North-East states, a move Yahaya described as alarming.
- He advocated innovative financing models such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) and infrastructure bonds to drive regional development.
4. Economic Recovery
- Yahaya highlighted the need to revive the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC), which once symbolized the region’s economic potential.
- The ongoing NNDC reforms, he said, are a “golden opportunity” to stimulate agriculture, industrialization, and job creation.
“With proper restructuring, competent management and effective oversight, we can restore NNDC to its former glory,” he added. This meeting underscores the multi-layered challenges facing Northern Nigeria—from security to infrastructure and economic stagnation—but also shows a clear push for regional collaboration and federal responsiveness.
