Governors from Nigeria’s Northwest geopolitical zone gathered in Kaduna on Friday night to deliberate on the pressing challenges confronting the region, including the growing threat of insecurity, the alarming rise in drug abuse, and the need for accelerated socio-economic development.
The high-level meeting, which was held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, was hosted by Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, and chaired by Governor Umar Dikko Radda of Katsina State, who also serves as the Chairman of the Northwest Governors’ Forum.
Briefing journalists shortly after the closed-door meeting, Governor Radda described the deliberations as productive, adding that all the governors present had resolved to adopt a coordinated and collective approach to tackle the key issues plaguing the region.
“We just concluded our meeting, and it was a very fruitful engagement. We had deep discussions on the challenges affecting our region, particularly the insecurity that has destabilised communities, as well as the disturbing rate of drug abuse among youths,” he said.
Governor Radda disclosed that the forum received presentations from the Northwest Development Commission and the Federal Medical University, Funtua, both of which provided insights into ongoing and proposed initiatives aimed at addressing regional development gaps.
He emphasized that the governors had reached a consensus to collaborate more closely in addressing these issues, with a shared goal of fostering sustainable development and improving the quality of life for residents of the Northwest.
“Our discussions also extended to other areas of partnership, including healthcare and education. We are committed to working together to ensure that the region benefits from strategic, people-focused interventions,” he added.
In his remarks, Governor Uba Sani highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in tackling poverty, unemployment, and other social problems that have fueled instability in the zone. He noted that the governors are aligning their efforts with development partners to implement practical and lasting solutions that will transform the socio-economic landscape of the Northwest.
The meeting underscores the growing sense of urgency among Northwest leaders to collectively address the worsening security and social challenges in the region, and signals a renewed commitment to integrated governance and development strategies across state boundaries.
