By Suleiman Anyalewechi
To halt further slide of the Northern Region in to the abyss of insecurity and its attendant negative consequences, the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya has called for urgent and concerted efforts to rijig the region’s economy and enhance human capital development.
While emphasising the crucial positive effects that a sustainable economic blue print could have on the lingering security challenges being faced by most states of the North, Yahaya who is also the Governor of Gombe state ,noted that economic development remains a veritable panacea to freeing the North from its current challenges ,particularly insecurity .
Governor Yahaya who spoke in Kaduna on Tuesday, April, 30, 2024, during a meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum ,also lamented the astronomical rise in the number of out of School children in the region,regretting that such an ugly situation has tended to worsen the problem of insecurity .
“Economic development is paramount to our region’s prosperity. We consider economic development as the long term solution to our security challenges .
“In this regard,the revitalization of the New Nigeria Development Company NNDC is at the heart of our economic agenda for Northern Nigeria.
“We must also explore innovative ways to invest in critical infrastructure capable of unlocking the huge industrial and economic potentials of the Northern region .
“I urge us to not to lose focus ,but to strive ,sustain ,and enhance the legacies of our founding fathers . Human capital development is very critical to the progress and prosperity of our region .
“It is deeply troubling that Northern Nigeria currently bears the burden of the highest number of Out-of-school children in the world .
“This is an unacceptable reality that we must urgently address . Every child deserves access to quality education and the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to succeed in today’s rapidly changing global economic landscape.
“We have a moral obligation to invest massively in education ,and skill development ,health care and social services in order to unlock the full potentials of our youths and empower future generations.” the Northern Governors stated.
Governor Yahaya while calling for concerted efforts towards the task of building a prosperous North harped on the importance of collaboration and regional integration in infrastructure development ,human capital development ,trade security cooperation and cultural exchange.
” Together we can unlock the full potentials of our region and ensure inclusive growth and shared prosperity in the ever competitive Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Security remains top on our agenda . During our last meeting ,we reaffirmed our willingness to work with the Federal Government in order to provide lasting solutions to the security challenges bedevilling our region .
“Since then ,we have had various engagements with the National Security Adviser NSA ,Service Chiefs, Coalition of Northern Civil Society Groups and other relevant stakeholders on charting a way forward for sustainable peace and stability in Northern Nigeria.
“As the Nation continues to deliberate on the issue of State police ,it is important that we begin to explore state policing models that are built on the foundation of cooperation and collaboration amongst our Northern state ” Governor Yahaya emphasised .
