The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) announced on Monday that it is taking significant steps to address the escalating insecurity and disunity in Northern Nigeria.
In an interview with Daily Trust, ACF National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, emphasized that the region can no longer remain idle in the face of increasing banditry and terrorism, which have severely disrupted livelihoods, agriculture, and travel.
To tackle these challenges, the ACF has established two committees. One, led by the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, will focus on recommending practical strategies to strengthen inter-group relations and foster peaceful coexistence in northern communities.
The second committee, chaired by retired Lieutenant General AbdulRahman Dambazau, former Chief of Army Staff, is charged with proposing solutions to the ongoing security crises in the region.
These committees were formed following a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, which recognized both internal and external factors contributing to the region’s challenges.
Professor Muhammad-Baba highlighted that banditry and terrorism, once localized in states like Zamfara, have now spread to other areas including Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger, severely affecting the region’s agriculture and economy. He noted that while both federal and state governments have made efforts, these have been inadequate in addressing the growing scale of the crises.
He also pointed to deep-seated socio-economic challenges, stating that Northern Nigeria leads in poverty, underdevelopment, and poor living standards. Citing a recent National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report, he noted that over 80% of those facing multidimensional poverty in Nigeria are in the North.
“This growing disparity between the North and other parts of Nigeria has heightened the need for collective action,” he said.
In addition to tackling insecurity, Muhammad-Baba noted that the ACF is also focused on restoring unity among the North’s diverse ethnic and religious groups, which have become increasingly divided.
He added that the forum is committed to improving educational and developmental outcomes in the region, including supporting initiatives such as the Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education Commission.
Muhammad-Baba expressed confidence that with broad support and a strategic, non-governmental approach, the ACF’s initiatives would lead to meaningful progress.
