Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has described the persistent killings and insecurity in northern Nigeria as a curse that continues to undermine the region’s growth and prosperity.
Dogara made the statement on Tuesday during a panel discussion at the Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit (NNIIS) 2025, organised by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) in Abuja.
He lamented that the North has become plagued by daily violence, killings, kidnappings, maiming, and displacements, calling the situation a national emergency that state governments cannot resolve alone.
“With the level of bloodletting in the North today, if you are a person of faith, you would understand that we are operating under a curse because it is human blood being spilled,” Dogara said. “The result of a curse is fruitless labour. That is why we are sweating in this region but producing little or no tangible results.”
He urged northern leaders to pool their resources and confront insecurity decisively, warning that without urgent collective action, all discussions about development would remain meaningless.
“If tackling this crisis requires mobilising the resources of all 19 northern states together, then we must do it. Help is not coming from anywhere else—we must take our destiny in our own hands,” he stressed.
Dogara also emphasised that Nigeria’s overall progress is tied to the fate of the North.
“The development of northern Nigeria is not just a regional issue, it is a national emergency. Without addressing the needs of our vast population in the North, Nigeria cannot move forward,” he added.
Responding to his remarks, former Senate President and ex-Governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, cautioned against placing the entire burden on governors. He advocated a holistic national strategy that involves federal authorities and the private sector.
“Even if you bring in a super governor today, you won’t see investments without the right incentives,” Saraki said, while commending the innovative responses already being demonstrated by the governors of Nasarawa and Zamfara.
He further called for a clearly defined national development plan that assigns responsibilities across the Federal Government, state governments, and private investors.
Also speaking at the summit, Hon. Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, expressed concern over how northern youths are being exploited by criminal groups.
“The majority of those recruited by bandits are young people. Those engaging in cybercrime also come from within our communities,” he lamented.
El-Rufai urged leaders to invest in youth mentorship, cultural reorientation, and constructive service opportunities to redirect their energy toward nation-building.
Wrapping up the event, Prof. Doknan Sheni, Director-General of the Northern Elders Forum, declared that the era of rhetoric had ended. He announced the adoption of a 10-year Northern Development Plan (2025–2035) designed to fight poverty, reduce insecurity, and generate employment by harnessing human and natural resources.
According to him, the summit’s highlight was the formal signing of the Northern Nigeria Integrated Economic Development Charter, which was endorsed by regional leaders and stakeholders.
“This charter will now serve as the central instrument guiding collective action for economic growth and transformation in northern Nigeria,” Prof. Sheni stated.
