Northern governors on Monday warned that the region could lose its future to worsening insecurity and poverty if leaders fail to take immediate and decisive action.
Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, issued the warning at a joint meeting of the Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council held at the Kaduna Government House. The two-day meeting brought together 19 governors, traditional rulers, security chiefs and civil society groups to deliberate on a coordinated response to terrorism, banditry and rising social challenges.
Yahaya said the North was facing “the grim reality of insecurity and poverty that seeks to undermine our very existence,” stressing that history would judge leaders not by the number of projects they inaugurate but by whether they secure a stable future for coming generations.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as strong leadership on national security, especially during the rescue operations involving abducted schoolchildren. He also extended condolences to families of abducted pupils in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Kano, Niger and Sokoto states and victims of recent Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe. He noted that attacks on schools were direct assaults on the future of northern children.
Warning that insecurity affects all residents regardless of religion or status, Yahaya called for unity, an end to divisive politics and renewed commitment to tackling the underlying causes of the crisis, including underdevelopment, illiteracy, poor resource management, climate change and the growing population of out-of-school children.
A major highlight of the meeting was a renewed push for the creation of state police. Reaffirming an earlier communiqué issued on May 10, 2025, the governors insisted that state policing remained critical to addressing contemporary security threats and urged the National Assembly to expedite the required constitutional amendments.
Traditional rulers were urged to use their influence to promote stability, while religious leaders were advised to preach tolerance. The Forum also cautioned political figures against exploiting ethnic or religious sentiments for political advantage.
The governors further encouraged security agencies to intensify surveillance and improve rapid response mechanisms. They also called on the judiciary to ensure swift and effective criminal justice delivery.
In a joint declaration, the Northern governors pledged to work closely with the Federal Government to restore lasting peace and stability across the region.
