Economic hardship more severe in our region than south – Northern Governors

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has highlighted the economic challenges facing Nigeria’s northern region, noting that it is bearing the brunt of the country’s economic hardship. Gombe State Governor and NSGF chair, Mohammed Yahaya, voiced these concerns during a forum meeting in Kaduna on Monday. The gathering, which included discussions with Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa and traditional leaders, focused on issues of insecurity, economic hardship, and power outages affecting the region.

“We must continue to work with the federal government and relevant agencies to provide the necessary support and relief to those affected,” Yahaya said, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to address these challenges. “As we gather today, our collective resolve is being tested by the ongoing challenges that we face,” he added, listing terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, farmer-herder conflicts, drug abuse, the Almajiri crisis, poverty, and unemployment as critical issues in the north.

Youth restiveness, which Yahaya attributed to economic hardship and insecurity, remains a pressing concern. Referring to the recent EndBadGovernance protests in August, he warned that “Youth restiveness is a growing concern, driven by illiteracy, poverty, and lack of economic opportunities. Our young people are calling out for change, and it is our responsibility to listen and act.”

The Gombe governor urged fellow northern leaders to scale up efforts to combat these issues by focusing on education, skills development, and job creation. “Let us focus on creating pathways for the youth to channel their energy into productive ventures, thereby reducing their vulnerability to crime and social vices,” he said.

He also stressed the need for targeted interventions to address regional economic disparities, pointing out that the economic hardships are especially pronounced in the northern part of the country. “This calls for urgent intervention. It is essential that we, as leaders, adopt measures to alleviate the suffering, such as targeted social welfare programmes, support for small and medium enterprises, and policies that attract investment to our states,” Yahaya noted.

Power outages and electricity infrastructure were also on the agenda, with Yahaya highlighting that most northern states are currently experiencing severe power shortages due to vandalized transmission lines. “As we speak today, most of our Northern states are in darkness due to vandalisation of electricity transmission infrastructure,” he said, calling on the federal government to build additional transmission lines and improve the region’s energy resilience.

Yahaya also urged northern governors to prioritize environmental conservation and sustainable agricultural practices. He pointed to the region’s vast agricultural potential, saying, “If fully harnessed, [this] can significantly alleviate hunger and boost economic growth.” He emphasized the need for grants, modern farming techniques, improved security, and irrigation systems to support farmers.

In closing, Yahaya called on his colleagues to support industrialization efforts by reviving defunct factories, particularly in the textile and agro-allied sectors, to create jobs and drive economic development in the region.