Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has warned that escalating insecurity and poverty in northern Nigeria have become so severe that they must be treated as a national emergency rather than a regional concern.
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Dogara spoke on Tuesday during a panel session at the Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit (NNIIS) 2025, organised by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) in Abuja.
Lamenting the worsening bloodshed across the region, the former Speaker said the magnitude of killings in the North carried spiritual implications.
“With the kind of bloodletting we are witnessing in the North, if you are a person of faith, you will know that we are operating under a curse because it is human blood.
“The effect of a curse is that you sweat without results. That is why we are sweating in this part of the country without any tangible outcome,” he said.
Dogara insisted that security must be the top priority before any meaningful development could occur, urging governors in the 19 northern states to pool resources to combat the menace.
“If it will mean pulling all the 19 northern states’ resources together to tackle insecurity, we must do it. Otherwise, all our conversations here will amount to nothing,” he stressed.
He further urged the region to stop depending on external solutions, saying northerners must take charge of their own destiny.
“We need to depart from doing business as usual and embrace radical, transformative action. Help is not coming from anywhere; we must take our destiny into our own hands,” he warned.
Dogara argued that without the development of the region’s vast population, Nigeria’s overall progress would remain stalled.
“The development of northern Nigeria is not a regional prerogative. It must be seen as a national emergency. If the vast number of people we have in the North are not developed, Nigeria is going nowhere.”
Also speaking, Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, said the region’s youth population, often seen as a potential asset, had become a liability due to their involvement in banditry and cybercrime.
“The majority of those recruited by bandits are young people. The young people involved in cybercrime also come from within our group,” he said.
El-Rufai added that while more young people were now being appointed to public positions, the focus must shift to building a culture of respect, mentorship, innovation, and service among the youth.
Presenting a summary of the summit, Prof. Doknan Sheni, Director-General of NEF, said the event included inclusive measures such as interpreters, live-streaming channels, and safety guidance for participants.
He explained that the ten-year development plan (2025–2035) was designed as an action-oriented roadmap to reduce poverty, curb insecurity, and create employment, with emphasis on harnessing human and natural resources.
The summit deliberated extensively on four key themes:
- Power – bridging energy deficits through decentralisation and partnerships
- Agriculture – shifting from subsistence to agro-industrial transformation
- Digital Economy & Innovation – leveraging technology to unlock growth
- Mining – promoting inclusive and sustainable exploitation of mineral resources
Prof. Sheni noted that the high point of the summit was the signing and adoption of the Northern Nigeria Integrated Economic Development Charter, now positioned as the guiding instrument for collective action to drive transformation in the region.
He stressed that the North must move beyond rhetoric into bold, coordinated action if it is to fulfil its role as the economic engine of Nigeria.
“The high point of the summit was the formal signing and adoption of the Northern Nigeria Integrated Economic Development Charter. This document, endorsed by regional leaders and stakeholders, is now positioned as the central instrument to guide collective action in driving economic growth and transformation in Northern Nigeria.
“The proceedings closed with assurances of faithfulness, commitment, and competitiveness in implementing the resolutions, backed by infrastructure development, power generation initiatives, and inclusive community participation. The overall message was clear: moving beyond rhetoric into bold, coordinated action is essential if the region is to fulfil its role as the economic engine of the nation.
“Several presentations underlined the challenges and opportunities in agriculture, mining, infrastructure, power, and the digital economy. It was agreed that synergy between the public and private sectors is vital for building an enabling environment, attracting investors, and ensuring security. Discussions also highlighted the importance of transparency, streamlined approvals, policy reforms, and youth empowerment in advancing economic transformation.”
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