The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya,
CON, has reaffirmed the collective concerns of northern governors regarding the rising insecurity in the region. He emphasized a strong commitment to partnering with key stakeholders to tackle the issue effectively.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya restated this on Monday while receiving a comprehensive report from the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG).
The report was put together by the Experts’ Committee on insecurity in Northern Nigeria, following a recently conducted roundtable meeting held in Abuja.
The Governor noted the growing impact of insecurity on the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians, particularly in the agricultural sector. This has led to a hike in food prices, affecting not only the Northern states but the entire nation.
“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. 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,” the Governor stated.
As part of the NSGF’s response under his leadership, Governor Inuwa Yahaya announced plans to convene an expanded meeting.
This meeting will bring together all relevant stakeholders, including past and present leaders, traditional rulers, security chiefs, and civil society organizations. They will 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. We will study the report and work together towards its implementation. We are 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.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya commended the leadership of the CNG for its detailed analysis, acknowledging their role in addressing the region’s most pressing issues.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and Chairman of the Committee of Experts on security component of the CNG, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, explained that the report presented to Governor Inuwa Yahaya is a culmination of a long and painstaking process.
The report examines the changing faces of insecurity in Northern Nigeria, with a view to proffering workable solutions.
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Highlighting some content of the report, he acknowledged the imperative of an All Society Approach introduced by the group. This approach will establish synergy among stakeholders across the spectrum of Northern Nigeria in tackling insecurity.
He said the group has already submitted the same report to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) for onward processing.
While acknowledging the peace and tranquility of Gombe State, the leader of the delegation explained that no state is totally immune from criminal activities, so long as contiguous states are confronted with incidences of crime and criminality.
