IT is with deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you to address this important roundtable on Multidimensional Approach to Tackling Insecurity in Northern Nigeria.
Insecurity in northern Nigeria (and indeed Nigeria generally) is a matter of great concern to all of us. Northern Nigeria, once regarded as a beacon of peace and stability, is today grappling with numerous security challenges: religious crises, Boko Haram insurgency, farmer-herders clashes, cattle rustling, rural banditry, kidnap-for-ransom, etc. These challenges pit our people against each other, thereby severing the bonds of brotherhood that hold our communities together.
As leaders, we must all take responsibility and join hands to reverse this ugly trend. We must recognize the urgency of the situation and make strong commitment towards the safety and wellbeing of our people. It is a challenge that affects us all. It acknowledges neither tribe nor religion. No one (rich or poor, high or low, young or old) is immune from its consequences.
During our meeting of the Northern States Governors Forum in December last year, I made it clear that confronting these challenges will require a united and comprehensive effort. We must work towards addressing its root causes in order to find sustainable solutions. The nature and complexities of those challenges necessitate a multidimensional approach that goes beyond traditional measures. As the wise saying goes: “we cannot keep repeating the same thing and expect a different result.”
In order to develop a multi-dimensional approach to tackling our security challenges, I’m advocating the 4D approach: Development, Defence, Dialogue and Diplomacy.
Development: Today, Northern Nigeria ranks lowest across all indices of human development. This provides a fertile ground for terrorism and all forms of insecurity. To address this, we must put all hands on deck to address the root causes of under-development in northern Nigeria. These include poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, population explosion and environmental degradation. We must invest in infrastructure, human capital, agriculture, renewable energy, digital economy and the restoration of our environment.
Defence: Through investment in security, we must strengthen the capabilities of our security agencies to adequately respond to emerging security threats. This requires investment in manpower, training and capacity building, equipment and logistics, enhanced intelligence capabilities, legal reforms, improved welfare, and sustained local collaboration.
Dialogue: Through dialogue, we must seek to foster a culture of trust and accountability. We must deny divisive elements and conflict merchants the opportunity to divide us. As the late Sir Ahmadu Bello eloquently expressed, we are a “People of many different races, tribes and religion who are knit together to common history, common interest and common ideas, the things that unite us are stronger than the things that divide us.” We must therefore work with civil society groups, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and all relevant stakeholders in order to foster dialogue and understanding among our diverse communities.
Diplomacy: Northern Nigeria shares borders with 4 countries (Benin Republic, Niger, Chad and Cameroon). While this presents an opportunity for commerce and trade through the movement of goods and people, it also comes with tremendous risks posed by the trafficking of weapons and drugs and the movement of international criminals through our porous border. For the sake of our collective security, we must collaborate with our neighbours in order to tackle those challenges.
The issue of drug abuse, and its role in fuelling insecurity, is one that is not receiving the desired attention. It is a major threat to both the present and the future of our youth. We must combat this menace and take our youth off the streets, lest they become a ticking time-bomb of socioeconomic discontents, with severe consequences on social stability and internal cohesion.
This roundtable is a testament to our collective determination to find innovative and lasting solutions to our security challenges. I therefore urge all of you to use this opportunity to share ideas, ensure collaborations and build partnerships that will contribute to the restoration of peace and stability to our northern region. I have no doubt that together, we can pave the way for a more secure and prosperous future for northern Nigeria.
I would like to thank the organizers of this roundtable for bringing together seasoned security experts, public policy practitioners and other stakeholders to brainstorm on the solutions to tackle our security challenges. Over the years, we have seen various roundtables discussions and conferences on insecurity in northern Nigeria, with policy recommendations begging for implementation. I urge us all to match our words with action, and contribute our quota to a safer and more prosperous northern Nigeria.
Thank you for listening and God bless you all.
Being a text of remarks delivered by His Excellency, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, Governor of Gombe State and Chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum, on the occasion of the Roundtable on Security in Northern Nigeria, organized by the Coalition of Northern Groups on Wednesday, 24th January, 2024 in Abuja.