In a renewed effort to address the escalating insecurity and deepening poverty ravaging northern Nigeria, governors from the region convened in Kaduna on Friday for a high-level consultative meeting with traditional rulers and other key stakeholders.
The meeting, which was chaired by the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, brought together governors from the 19 northern states as well as emirs, chiefs, and religious leaders. The discussions focused on coordinated responses to banditry, kidnapping, food insecurity, and youth unemployment, which continue to plague the region.
Governor Yahaya, in his opening remarks, emphasized the urgency of collaborative action, noting that “the North can no longer afford isolated approaches to collective challenges.” He stressed the need for a united front to restore peace, rebuild confidence in governance, and stimulate grassroots development.
Traditional rulers also took the stage, offering cultural and historical perspectives on community-based conflict resolution, while urging the political class to prioritize inclusive policies and sustainable development.
Key resolutions from the meeting included:
Enhanced coordination between state security outfits and federal agencies.
Massive investment in agriculture and youth empowerment programs.
Strengthening traditional institutions to play advisory and conflict-mediation roles.
Tackling the root causes of extremism and displacement.
The communique released at the end of the meeting called on the federal government to provide more support for state-led initiatives and urged communities to cooperate with security agencies in intelligence gathering.
Analysts see the Kaduna meeting as a crucial step toward a more strategic, homegrown solution to the crisis in northern Nigeria.
