Rescue Mission for Northern Nigeria

While last week’s meeting of the 19 northern governors and their traditional rulers on the insecurity ravaging the region was commendable, they overlooked other critical issues that must also be tackled to achieve lasting peace and progress, Davidson Iriekpen writes

Troubled by the massive insecurity in their region, the 19 northern governors and their traditional rulers last weekend held a meeting in Kaduna where they demanded an immediate review of Nigeria’s security strategies and the creation of state police to tackle the escalating crisis.

The leaders, who acknowledged the role of non-partisan cooperation and collaboration in addressing the numerous developmental challenges confronting the North, deliberated on the ways to improve the security apparatus of the region and Nigeria at large.

Since 2016, the North has literally been torn apart by crisis, with thousands abducted for ransom, others killed or maimed, and their homes destroyed. Hardly can people go to their farms or be involved in economic activities without fear of being kidnapped or killed.

Though the recent meeting was not the first time northern leaders would gather to discuss the state of insecurity in the region, many believe that if they continue to bring these issues to the fore, a solution will be in sight.

Not a few have wondered why Northern Nigeria, which produced more heads of state, civilian presidents, top business leaders, military generals and top paramilitary officers, from independence till date, is plagued by massive poverty, illiteracy and educational backwardness.

A recent survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that 63 per cent (about 133 million) of persons in Nigeria are multidimensionally poor. It went further to say that 65 per cent (86 million) of the poor live in the North, while 35 per cent (nearly 47 million) live in the South.

The North is not faring any better in the area of education. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) puts the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria at 18.3 million. Of this outrageous number, about 70 per cent are in northern Nigeria. The same is the case with child and maternal mortality rates, which are increasing, as well as infrastructure rot.

Persistent insecurity has exacerbated the situation, disrupting agricultural activities and livelihoods, undermining economic progress. Several moves to address infrastructural deficits were equally threatened by insecurity which has slowed down developments in the critical sectors.

While many have commended the governors and their traditional rulers for the recent meeting, they however feel that they overlooked other critical issues that must also be tackled to achieve lasting peace and progress in the region.

Those who spoke to THISDAY attributed the root causes of the challenges confronting the region to factors such as poverty, uncontrolled population growth, illiteracy, unemployment and social inequality, which provided the fertile ground for violence and extremism. 

According to security experts, without access to quality education and economic opportunities, young northerners become willing tools in the hands of extremist organisations.

The rise of Boko Haram and banditry has also shown how ideological indoctrination can exploit the marginalised youth.

The inability of the governments at all levels to provide basic services and security has led to a crisis of trust, where citizens feel abandoned and resort to self-help measures.

Education has often been touted as a powerful tool for breaking the cycles of poverty and violence. It is generally believed that improving educational access and quality can serve as a crucial strategy for tackling insecurity. But this is hardly exploited by the governments.

For the leaders in the region, this is supposed to be disturbing and a cause for concern. But this problem is hardly discussed or addressed by the northern leaders, particularly the political class, who are being accused of using the growing population of uneducated and suffering masses as human capital to win elections.

Surprisingly, since the return of democracy in 1999 to date, 19 states in the North have received multi-trillion naira from the federation account and internally generated revenue, yet nothing has changed considerably in the lives of the people.

To effectively tackle these challenges, northern governors and local government chairmen must be more accountable to their people.

Ironically, some of the terriorists were thugs used by politicians during the elections and later abandone.

Additionally, the state governors should seriously consider the option of granting amnesty to terrorists and bandits and in the process, recover their weapons. Thereafter, they can rehabilitate, train, empower and integrate them into the society with meaningful means of livelihood.

Experience has shown that because many rehabilitated and de-radicalised Boko Haram members by the military were not properly empowered and resettled, they went back to rejoin the group for their nefarious activities.   

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, captured the situation succinctly when he urged the political class to tackle the high rate of unemployment, poverty, hunger, and illiteracy in the land, saying this would go a long way in reducing the spate of insecurity in the country.

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, re-echoed the same sentiments, saying that northern leaders had failed woefully to address and implement programmes to tackle the illiteracy, infrastructure gap, poverty and unemployment bedevilling the region.

Speaking as a panelist at the Stakeholders’ Roundtable on Northern Nigeria Youth Development, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna, Sani noted that the leaders must apologise to the people.

He argued that while other regions were busy addressing developmental challenges and making life better for their people, terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, and communal conflicts have left northern communities desolate.

He, therefore, urged past and present leaders from the North to come up with plans for youth development to make progress in the region’s rescue mission.

“For us to make progress as a region, we must stop living in denial. We must look at ourselves in the mirror and accept that we have failed our people. Blaming others for our predicament will not take us anywhere. If we fail to retrace our steps and tackle our security and developmental challenges with all the energy and resources we can muster, we may not be able to sleep in our houses in the next five years,” Sani said.

Also, a public affairs analyst, Saleh Shehu Ashaka, said the security challenges facing northern Nigeria were caused by socio-economic factors and educational deficits. He noted that a comprehensive approach that prioritises education and economic stability holds promise for breaking these cycles of violence in the region.

“By investing in accessible education, vocational training, job creation, and community engagement, stakeholders can empower individuals, foster economic resilience, and ultimately contribute to lasting peace in the region. It is only through these concerted efforts that Northern Nigeria can move towards a future free from the shackles of insecurity and instability.

“Given the predominance of agriculture in northern Nigeria, investing in agricultural development can significantly impact economic stability. Programmes aimed at improving farming techniques, providing access to markets, and supporting agro-based industries will not only boost food security but also create jobs and enhance livelihoods, reducing the appeal of extremist activities,” he said.