Northern govs vow to tackle insecurity
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, has reaffirmed the collective concerns of northern governors regarding the rising insecurity in the region.
The governor emphasised their strong commitment to partnering with key stakeholders to tackle the issue effectively.
Yahaya restated this on Monday while receiving a report of the Coalition of Northern Groups put together by the experts’ committee on insecurity in Northern Nigeria as part of the outcomes of the recently conducted roundtable meeting held in Abuja.
Yahaya noted the growing impact of insecurity on the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians, particularly in the agricultural sector, which has led to a hike in food prices affecting not only the Northern states but the entire nation.
He emphasised that the governors are committed to tackling the insecurity that has plagued the region, which has hindered farming activities, exacerbated the inflation of food commodities, and general economic challenges faced by the country.
He stated, “As governors, we are deeply concerned about the security situation in Northern Nigeria.
“This region has the largest portion of the country’s population and is endowed with mineral resources and fertile soil ideal for farming.
“The region’s agricultural strength plays a significant role in ensuring food security in Nigeria.
“Unfortunately, the current insecurity is disrupting these activities, contributing to the rising cost of food commodities, which affects all Nigerians, not just those in the North.”
As part of the NSGF’s response under his leadership, Yahaya announced plans to convene an expanded meeting that will bring together all relevant stakeholders to discuss and implement strategies aimed at restoring the glory of the region.
“This time around, we want to take a collective approach to the insecurity issue. This report is timely. We will study it and work together towards its implementation.
“We are currently planning to convene an expanded meeting with all critical stakeholders in the region to further explore how we can come together to propose solutions that will genuinely address these problems completely,” the governor said.
