Insecurity: Enough of Empty Meetings, Inuwa Yahaya Tells Northern Leaders
By Auwal Abdullah
The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has urged Northern leaders to move beyond rhetoric and adopt decisive measures to tackle the worsening security challenges confronting the region.
Speaking on Monday at the meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council in Dutse, Jigawa State, Governor Inuwa warned that insecurity, poverty and underdevelopment continue to threaten the North’s unity, prosperity and future.
The meeting brought together governors, traditional rulers, security chiefs and representatives of the Federal Government to deliberate on the theme, “Peace, Unity and Development of Northern Nigeria.”
Describing the security situation in the region as unprecedented and deeply troubling, the NSGF chairman said banditry, insurgency, farmer-herder clashes and communal conflicts have become major obstacles to social cohesion, economic growth and sustainable development.
“Without security, there can be no unity. Without security and unity, there can be no development,” he said.
Governor Inuwa stressed that Northern leaders could no longer afford to remain passive in the face of escalating insecurity, insisting that practical solutions must replace repeated discussions and unimplemented resolutions.
“Enough of meetings that do not produce results. Enough of communiqués that are not implemented. Enough of promises that are not followed by action,” he declared.
The governor linked the region’s security crisis to decades of socio-economic neglect, citing widespread poverty, unemployment and poor educational outcomes. He noted that about 86 million people in Northern Nigeria live in multidimensional poverty, while a significant proportion of the country’s out-of-school children are concentrated in the region.
According to him, poverty, illiteracy and youth unemployment have created fertile ground for criminal networks and violent extremist groups to recruit vulnerable young people.
To address the challenges, Governor Inuwa advocated comprehensive reforms, including the establishment of state police, increased investment in education and skills development, job creation, agricultural revitalisation and stronger support for security agencies.
He also called on traditional rulers to strengthen community vigilance and intelligence gathering, describing them as critical partners in peacebuilding and security management.
“You are not just ceremonial figures; you are essential partners in security, unity and development,” he told the royal fathers.
The NSGF chairman further expressed condolences to the government and people of Katsina State over the killing of retired Major-General Rabe Abubakar by bandits, describing the incident as a stark reminder of the pervasive nature of insecurity.
“No one is safe until everyone is safe,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, commended the presence of the NSGF chairman and other governors, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to addressing the region’s challenges through collaboration.
The Sultan urged leaders and citizens to work collectively towards lasting solutions that would promote peace, unity and development across Northern Nigeria.
