The Arewa Consultative Forum has stated that the Federal Government’s current policies have significantly exacerbated the challenges in the region, showing minimal sensitivity to the fragile living conditions of the Arewa people.
The ACF called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the mounting issues of insecurity, education, and economic development plaguing northern Nigeria.
In a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna, the pan-northern socio-political group expressed dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s current policies, describing them as worsening the already dire conditions in the region.
The document, signed by ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, specifically called for a review of economic policies to ensure they are more empathetic to the hardships Nigerians are enduring.
“The policies of the current Federal Government have continued to make matters much worse, with little indications of needed sensitivity to the precarious existential conditions of Arewa people,” the communique stated.
ACF urged the Tinubu administration to rethink its economic strategy, emphasizing the need for reforms that uplift citizens rather than further impoverishing them.
“Succinctly stated, economic reforms, while indeed desirable, should not impoverish the same people they are meant to serve; the people may not be alive to reap the putative benefits,” the communique read.
Addressing the escalating security situation, the ACF criticized the government’s handling of threats posed by bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers across the North.
The forum reiterated that safeguarding lives and property is a fundamental responsibility of government, which it accused the administration of failing to meet.
“Those whose responsibility it is to provide security saying they are doing their best is unacceptable. The minimum duty of the government is to safeguard life and property, and doing anything less is a failure,” the communique added.
The ACF Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman (SAN), highlighted the daily atrocities in the region, lamenting the unchecked activities of criminal groups.
“The North is currently under siege from various threats, including bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, and unjust treatment. We must come together to address these challenges,” he said.
Osuman emphasized the need for collaboration between governors, legislators, and traditional leaders to address insecurity comprehensively. He also proposed local strategies to tackle illegal mining activities by both foreign and local actors.
The ACF also spotlighted the education crisis in the region, drawing attention to the alarming number of out-of-school children. It described the situation as a major setback to the region’s development and called for urgent, innovative solutions.
“Statistics of out-of-school children, of which Arewa has an overwhelming proportion, are cogent pointers to the situation. A lot has been done, but the truth is, far more needs to be done,” the communique noted.
In its communique, the ACF made several recommendations:
Economic Policies: The Federal Government was urged to re-order its economic reforms to include a “human face,” ensuring citizens can survive the reforms’ effects.
Governors’ Coordination: Northern governors were advised to adopt a unified approach to policy implementation in critical sectors such as education, security, agriculture, and healthcare.
Public Criticism: The Federal Government was encouraged to be more receptive to criticisms and suggestions, as they could improve the policymaking process.
Northern Elite Involvement: The forum called on northern elites to counter negative stereotypes about the region and invest in community development initiatives.
Food Security: Immediate measures, including food imports and long-term investments in agriculture, were suggested to address the region’s growing food crisis.
The forum endorsed the newly formed League of Northern Democrats, convened by elder statesman Dr. Umar Ardo and chaired by Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau. It described the League’s objectives as aligning with the ACF’s goals of economic empowerment, education, infrastructure development, and justice.
However, Osuman emphasized that beyond political solutions, urgent action and self-reflection are needed to address the North’s challenges effectively.
“We must prioritize economic empowerment, education and skills development, infrastructure development, and security and justice to revitalize the North,” he said.
The ACF stressed that the importance of inclusive leadership and collaboration among stakeholders to restore peace, stability, and prosperity to northern Nigeria.
“The time to think big is now,” the communique declared.
