The Northern States Governors’ Forum had a major meeting with the chairmen of the Northern States Councils of Emirs and Chiefs on Monday at the Council Chamber, Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, in a historic event that highlighted the North’s unity and resiliency.
In a statement signed by His Excellency Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the Executive Governor of Gombe State and the Forum’s Chairman, the northern leaders sent their deepest sympathies to all impacted by the recent tragedies in the nation. “We offer our sincere condolences to the victims of the devastating tanker explosion in Jigawa State and the flooding in Maiduguri. We express our solidarity with all Nigerians impacted by terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities,” the statement said, highlighting the forum’s commitment to offering the required assistance and support to the impacted individuals and communities.
The Forum commended the Federal Government and security agencies for their dedication to ensuring public safety, praised recent efforts that resulted in notable victories against criminal elements, and decided to take a proactive approach to security threats facing the northern region. The summit also urged for increased collaboration between traditional rulers and security agencies, highlighting the critical role traditional institutions play in preserving peace and bridging the divide between the people and the government.
In the communique, the Forum also reaffirmed its commitment to “investing in education, skills development, job creation and pathways for our youth to channel their energy into productive avenues, thereby reducing their vulnerability to crime and social vices” in order to find long-term solutions to the problems of youth restlessness. The governors of the northern states also spoke about the continuous power outages that are affecting several of them and “urged the Federal Government to urgently address the electricity failures.”
Because transmission infrastructure has been vandalized,” emphasizing the “need of increasing the region’s energy resiliency.” Regarding the region’s educational deficiencies, the leaders emphasized that “it is imperative that we collaboratively improve educational outcomes in the northern sub-region” and pledged to support programs aimed at addressing the startlingly high percentages of out-of-school children.
Another important topic covered during the combined gathering was agricultural potential, with the Forum recognizing that solving agricultural issues may reduce hunger and promote regional economic development. “We need to help our farmers by providing them with modern farming methods, money, and necessary infrastructure like irrigation systems and roads. The statement stated, in part, that “agriculture should act as a catalyst for industrialization and job creation throughout the region.”
In addition to being a time for introspection, this historic gathering in Kaduna signalled a renewed commitment by leaders to promote peace, development, and community well-being while cooperating to create a more promising and secure future for northern Nigeria. State governors, deputy governors, traditional leaders, and secretaries to state government from the nineteen northern states attended the two-day meeting. Among them were the Begha u Tiv, Orchivirigh Prof. James Iorzua Ayatse, CFR, Tor Tiv V; the secretary to the Benue State Government, Barr. Mrs. Deborah Serumun Aber; and the deputy governor of Benue State, H.E. Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, mni, who represented the executive governor, H. E. Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia.
