Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has called for renewed collaboration among governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies and citizens to confront the growing insecurity and social challenges threatening Northern Nigeria’s future.
Speaking on Monday at the 8th Executive Committee Meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council (NTRC) held in Dutse, the governor said the region was facing a combination of security, economic and social pressures that require urgent and collective action.
The meeting, attended by traditional rulers from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, was convened under the theme: “Peace, Unity and Development of the North.”
Namadi described traditional institutions as indispensable partners in governance, peacebuilding and community development, noting that they remain trusted bridges between government and the people.
According to him, Northern Nigeria continues to grapple with insecurity, poverty, youth unemployment, climate-related challenges, farmer-herder conflicts, drug abuse, the growing number of out-of-school children and the erosion of community values.
“Addressing these challenges requires sustained cooperation among state governments, traditional institutions, religious leaders, civil society organisations, security agencies and citizens,” he said.
The governor commended the Northern States Governors’ Forum for deepening collaboration with traditional rulers in pursuit of lasting peace and development across the region.
He also praised the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in tackling insecurity through intensified military operations, enhanced intelligence gathering and improved coordination among security agencies.
Namadi said the recent Northwest Peace and Security Summit in Katsina further strengthened regional cooperation among federal and state actors, traditional institutions and development partners.
While acknowledging ongoing security interventions, the governor stressed that Northern leaders must look beyond violence and confront the social problems that often fuel instability.
He warned that insecurity has left behind devastating consequences, including displacement, trauma among women and children, loss of livelihoods, declining access to education and a rising population of orphans and widows.
The governor advocated community-based security and peace committees as effective tools for dialogue, conflict prevention, early warning and stronger coordination between communities and security agencies.
He disclosed that Jigawa State had already established such committees and would soon implement executive orders aimed at promoting peace, unity, civic responsibility, social cohesion and the fight against drug and substance abuse.
Namadi further urged parents and community leaders to take greater responsibility for nurturing the younger generation, citing the Islamic teaching that every individual would be held accountable for those under their care.
He emphasised that strengthening families, schools and religious institutions was essential to raising disciplined, educated and productive citizens capable of driving regional development.
Drawing a link between security and prosperity, the governor said the progression of discussions within the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council had consistently highlighted the interconnectedness of security, peace, unity and development.
He added that the Hausa saying, ‘Zaman lafiya shine tushen arziki’ (peace is the foundation of prosperity), remains relevant to the region’s quest for growth and stability.
Namadi expressed appreciation to the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emir of Hadejia and other traditional rulers for choosing Jigawa as host of the meeting and expressed optimism that the deliberations would produce practical recommendations capable of advancing peace, security and development across Northern Nigeria.
The meeting concluded with a renewed call for stronger cooperation between governments and traditional institutions to address the root causes of insecurity and accelerate the region’s socio-economic transformation.
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