The chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has stressed that the issue of drug abuse and its role in fueling insecurity is not receiving the desired attention.
He added that “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 for social stability and internal cohesion.”
Inuwa Yahaya made the assertion while speaking on the occasion of the Roundtable on Security in Northern Nigeria, organised by the Coalition of Northern Groups on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, in Abuja.
The governor stressed the importance of the roundtable and the multidimensional approach to tackling insecurity in northern Nigeria.
According to him, “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-herder clashes, cattle rustling, rural banditry, kidnapping-for-ransom, etc.”
He stressed that these challenges pit our people against each other, thereby severing the bonds of brotherhood that hold our communities together.”
He added, “As leaders, we must all take responsibility and join hands to reverse this ugly trend. We must recognise the urgency of the situation and make a strong commitment to the safety and well-being 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.”
The Governor also said, 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, he added.
According to him, “To develop a multi-dimensional approach to tackling our security challenges, I’m advocating the 4D approach: development, defence, dialogue, and diplomacy.”
Inuwa Yahaya stressed that “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. ”
He added that these include poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, population explosions, and environmental degradation. We must invest in infrastructure, human capital, agriculture, renewable energy, the digital economy, and the restoration of our environment.”
On defence, he said that 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.”
Speaking on dialogue, the governor said that 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 As the late Sir Ahmadu Bello eloquently expressed, we are “people of many different races, tribes, and religions who are knit together by common history, common interests, 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,” he added.
While speaking on diplomacy, Inuwa Yahaya said that “Northern Nigeria shares borders with four countries (the 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 governor stressed.
He added that 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 in our northern region. I have no doubt that together we can pave the way for a more secure and prosperous future for northern Nigeria.”
According to him, “Over the years, we have seen various roundtable 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.
He thanked the organisers of the roundtable for bringing together seasoned security experts, public policy practitioners, and other stakeholders to brainstorm solutions to tackle security challenges in the region.
The theme of the meeting was ‘Breaking the Chains of Insecurity: The 4D Strategy for a Safer North’.
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