Governors of the 19 Northern States in Nigeria under the umbrella of Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) have announced the resolve to accelerate regional integration that will unlock the full potential of the region if fully put to use.
Towards this, they Governors have resolved to revive and rev up the ‘One North One Destiny’ principle instituted by the founding fathers of the region in order to aggregate their resources to tackle their peculiar challenges.
The Governors also called for proactive measures to stem the growing insecurity in the Nigeria’s Northern region.
Chairman of the Forum and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who spoke at the Governors regional meeting at the Kaduna Government House, said: “Regional integration is key to unlocking the full potential of our northern states. The concept of ‘One North, One Destiny’ as espoused by our founding fathers reflects the vision of fostering unity and collaboration across our diverse communities irrespective of tribe, religion or politics.
“Considering the current trend towards restructuring, it is safe to say that the future of Nigeria is regional. We must therefore do all that we can to prepare for that future by fast-tracking regional integration. This will require collective investments in regional infrastructure, human capital development, trade and commerce, agriculture and environment, digital economy, and cultural exchanges.”
The NSGF leader called on political, traditional and religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders and, indeed, the general public to embrace the diversity in the region and pursue inclusive policies in order to realise their collective aspirations and create a harmonious future for the region.
According to him: “As Governors of the 19 Northern States, while commending the federal government for renewed vigour in the fight against insecurity, we believe that more needs to be done to bring an end to the menace of kidnapping, banditry, communal clashes and terrorism bedeviling our region.
“Security and development are intricately connected, and we must approach them collectively. Without security, there will be no development, because investors can only invest in an environment where their assets and resources are secure.”
Also, he said, critical infrastructure like roads and bridges, as well as human capital investments like education and healthcare can only flourish in an atmosphere of peace and security. Similarly, the people of the region can only till their land or pursue other economic and livelihood activities when their safety is guaranteed.
Governor Iunuwa further highlighted the urgent need to address the environmental challenges affecting Northern Nigeria, where climate change, unsustainable agricultural practices and population explosion have plunged communities on the brink of disaster, threatening rural livelihoods, pushing farmers into conflict with herders, and aggravating poverty and insecurity.
“We must show collective efforts in addressing those issues by adopting policies that promote sustainable agriculture, rural resilience, conflict mitigation, and responsible resource management. We must take advantage of green financing opportunities in order to harness our vast energy potentials, pursue energy diversity and invest in climate-friendly infrastructure.
“We must explore ways to harness our comparative advantage in agriculture, solid minerals, and renewable energy in order to propel our region forward. We must pay keen attention to changing global and regional dynamics in order to keep pace with emerging trends. In this regard, I shall continue to build on the work done by my predecessors in the areas of regional agricultural transformation, renewable energy partnerships, banking and financial sector reforms, industrialisation, and peace and security.”
According to him, if the region leverages its collective strengths, it can design a regional development plan that is compatible with present realities and future aspirations, taking into considerations the region’s unique potentials, distinctive advantages and sector-specific challenges.
The Northern governors’ forum chairman stated that the Northern Nigeria Development Commission (NNDC) will have a crucial role to play in reviving and diversifying the economy, enhancing regional competitiveness, exploring new opportunities and creating jobs for the teeming youth.
“I intend to double on the efforts of my predecessors in order to reposition the NNDC and all its subsidiary companies and put them on the path of sustainable growth and long-term profitability,” he added.
In his remarks, the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, noted that the North had been beset with insecurity.
“Our region has been grappling with challenges of insecurity. Our human development indices have been declining. For the Northern Governors’ Forum to remain relevant, we must forge unity among our people and collaborate on issues of development. We must fashion a Marshal Plan for the development of the North. Our situation is dire and requires concerted and sustained action,” he said.
According to him, the region must develop a common strategy and operational plan to tackle insecurity.
“We must establish a Command and Control Centre to coordinate our joint efforts against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements in our region.
“This effort at charting a new course for our region will come to nothing if we fail to provide strong leadership. We must therefore effectively mobilise our people around this common agenda, create the enabling environment, leverage the human and material resources of the region, deliver on our promises to the people, and at all times put the welfare of the people at the centre of our development agenda for the Northern region,” he said.