The Northern Elites, organized under the Arewa New Agenda, expressed concerns about the recent drop in the value of the naira in the foreign exchange market.
They attributed this downturn to corrupt politicians who allegedly hoard dollars in their homes and foreign bank accounts instead of utilizing them for the country’s benefit.
This sentiment was shared during a conference held in Abuja, focusing on addressing poverty in Northern Nigeria, convened by the Arewa New Agenda.
The group highlighted the pressing issues of poverty, banditry, and kidnapping in the region, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to develop effective strategies to tackle these challenges.
The Arewa New Agenda is a collective of individuals with shared goals of promoting the development and unity of the northern region within a united Nigeria.
They emphasized the importance of innovation and sustainable development in advancing the interests of the North and the nation as a whole.
One of the key factors contributing to the current food crisis, according to the group, is insecurity, exacerbated by panic buying and hoarding of food items by citizens.
They proposed various socio-economic measures to the federal government aimed at fostering sustainable economic planning and addressing the pervasive issues of poverty and insecurity in the Northern region and beyond.
Regarding the removal of fuel subsidy, the Arewa New Agenda supported the decision, citing rampant corruption in the oil sector where only a select few benefit from government payments.
They viewed the removal of subsidy as a necessary step to curb such corrupt practices and ensure more equitable distribution of resources for the benefit of all Nigerians.
