Zamfara State Calls for Unified Strategy to Tackle Northern Nigeria's Crisis

During the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit held in Abuja, the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, emphasized the urgent need for the 19 northern states to maintain a unified voice regarding economic and security issues. Speaking at the event, Lawal argued that establishing a safe environment is a prerequisite for the region to become economically viable.

The summit, themed 'Unlocking Northern Nigeria’s Mining, Agricultural and Power Potentials (MAP2035),' was organized by the Northern Elders Forum. The event focused on a 10-year blueprint intended to transform the region into a center for inclusive growth and industrial innovation.

Lawal and other regional leaders, including the governors of Gombe and Nasarawa, warned that fragmented responses to the region's challenges have historically weakened its bargaining power and slowed progress. They called for a collective front to address persistent issues such as insurgency, banditry, and farmer-herder conflicts.

Lamis Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Northern Nigeria Development Company, provided stark context on the region's socioeconomic struggles. He noted that poverty rates in the 19 northern states exceed 60%, with some areas like Sokoto and Zamfara seeing rates higher than 80%, significantly contrasting with the approximately 30% rate in the South.

Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, stated that the overall prosperity of Nigeria is tied to the future of the North. Meanwhile, the Northern Elders Forum highlighted that a lack of essential infrastructure continues to hinder the region's industrialization efforts.