Poverty, Hunger May Push Youth To Remove Us From Office, Northern Governors Warn

The Northern Governors’ Forum has warned members to wake up and tackle poverty, hardship, unemployment and other crises in the North to avoid being removed from office by the youth, whom they described as restive.

The 19 Northern Governors have converged in Kaduna alongside traditional rulers from the North led by the Sultan of Sokoto and other critical stakeholders to deliberate on issues affecting the region.

Handing down the warning, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and Chairman NSGF, said the governors face existential threats which manifested in August and in October in the form of End Bad Governance Protests.

Yahaya, who was speaking to open the meeting which had in attendance the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa and other military officers, said their collective resolve was being tested by the ongoing challenges faced by the region.

He emphasised that the meeting “represents the two supreme institutions charged with the political and moral responsibility to transform the social and economic landscape of northern Nigeria.”

The governor pointed out that, “Our collective resolve is being tested by the ongoing challenges that we face. These include but are not limited to terrorism, banditry, kidnap-for-ransom, farmer-herder clashes, drug abuse, the menace of Almajiri and out-of-school children, poverty and unemployment.

“However, our unity and commitment to the prosperity of the people remain our greatest source of strength that will enable us to overcome those challenges.”

He added that while security remains a top priority for the region, the leaders “must acknowledge the recent gains made against criminals, especially the elimination of bandits and terror leaders. We cannot afford complacency. We must sustain these gains to ensure lasting peace and stability.”

He informed that their engagements with security agencies and civil society groups must continue to chart a sustainable path for peace and stability in the north, warning that “the recent ‘End Bad Governance’ protests in August should serve as a wake-up call for all northern leaders.

“Youth restiveness,” he said, “is a growing concern, driven by illiteracy, poverty, and lack of economic opportunities.”

“Our young people,” he said “are calling out for change, and it is our responsibility to listen and act. We must scale up efforts to tackle the root causes of youth restiveness by investing in education, skills development, and job creation.”

He urged governors to focus on creating pathways for the youth to channel their energy into productive ventures, thereby reducing their vulnerability to crime and social vices.

Yahaya stressed that, “The economic hardship faced by many Nigerians today is undeniable, and considering the North-South disparity in economic inequality, it is even more pronounced in northern Nigeria.

“This calls for urgent intervention. It is essential that we, as leaders, adopt measures to alleviate the suffering, such as targeted social welfare programs, support for small and medium enterprises, and policies that attract investment to our states.

“At the same time, we must work with the Federal Government to ensure that fiscal policies are sensitive to the realities of the day,” he stated.

He bemoaned the power crisis in the north, saying “most of our Northern states are in darkness due to the vandalization of electricity transmission infrastructure.

“This not only underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure but also the need to build additional transmission lines and diversify our energy supply so as to better connect our region and improve our energy resilience.”

He believed that “Northern Nigeria holds immense agricultural potential, which, if fully harnessed, can significantly alleviate hunger and boost economic growth.”

To achieve this, he said, the governors must provide adequate support to the farmers, including access to financing, modern farming techniques, and infrastructure such as roads and irrigation systems.

“Furthermore, ensuring the security of rural areas is crucial so that farmers can return to their fields without fear.

“Agriculture should not only be seen as a means to feed our people but also as a catalyst for industrialization and job creation across the region.

“That can be achieved through re-industrialisation of the North, especially by reviving the textile value chain and development of other agro-allied industries.”

On the environment, the governor said the recent flood incidents in many parts of the North serve as a sobering reminder of the urgent need to implement effective mitigation measures.

“We must adopt policies that promote environmental conservation, sustainable agricultural practices, and responsible resource management,” he said.

He lamented tha the deterioration of our environment exacerbates communal conflicts, particularly between farmers and herders, further threatening the stability of our communities.

“Addressing this issue holistically,” he said, “is crucial to not only preserving our natural resources but also ensuring social harmony.

“To achieve this, we must partner with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to build irrigation infrastructure like canals and waterways to divert excess water and channel them towards irrigation activities, thus enhancing rural livelihoods and safeguarding food security.”

He urged the governors and other leaders not to lose sight of the bigger picture—the shared responsibility to chart the way forward for a prosperous and forward-looking Northern Nigeria.

“We must deepen our cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, education, and trade, working together to harness our region’s immense potential.”

He noted that the future of Nigeria is regional, especially with the recent creation of the Ministry of Regional Development and today’s political realities. As northern leaders, he said they must prepare for that future.

“Achieving these will require comprehensive reforms across all institutions,” he said adding, “We are currently undertaking the reform of the Northern States Governors’ Forum in order to strengthen its institutional capacity, which will enable it to effectively address the region’s challenges.”

The ongoing restructuring of the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) he said is crucial as it will catalyse northern Nigeria’s economic revival, thus paving the way for significant investments in critical infrastructure and strategic sectors that will drive sustainable development.

“Additionally, revitalising our traditional institutions will transform them into more effective tools for conflict resolution and citizen engagement, thereby ensuring that our strategies reflect the needs and aspirations of our people.”

According to him, the agenda of the meeting reflects their commitment to partnering with the Federal Government and other domestic and international stakeholders.

“We will engage the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee in order to take advantage of the opportunities in the sector, especially with the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development,” he said.

He revealed that, “We are also partnering with the World Bank through programs like AGILE to boost education access, especially for the girl-child, and ACRESAL in order to ensure environmental sustainability and responsible ecological management. Other partners include those from the security sector, the economy and other strategic sectors.”

He emphasised that it is pertinent that they evolve from symbolic high-profile meetings to developing cohesive, robust and actionable plans that meet the specific needs of the northern region.

“This is the time to walk the talk, to turn our collective aspirations to reality, to leave an unblemished legacy for northern Nigeria,” he said.

He said, “The people of Northern Nigeria are counting on us to steer them through these challenging times, and with unity, determination, and bold actions, I am confident that we can fulfil our mandate to bring about a brighter, more prosperous future for all our people.