The National Security Adviser to the President, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, expressed deep concern over the alarming levels of poverty in Northern Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest region.
According to him, as of 2019, the poverty rate in the region was the highest in the country, with a national average of 40.1 percent.
Speaking at the combined convocation lecture of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Ribadu highlighted Sokoto as one of the worst-affected states, with approximately 87.73 percent of its population living in poverty.
He also pointed out the significant disparity in unemployment rates between the Northern and Southern regions, with the former experiencing rates exceeding twenty percent.
Ribadu further emphasized the rise in the illegal arms market in Northern Nigeria, attributing it to increased demand and supply facilitated by sophisticated criminal networks.
These networks employ innovative methods to transport illegal arms across the country, evading security checks effectively.
However, Ribadu assured that the administration led by President Tinubu is committed to tackling the multifaceted challenges of insecurity and poverty through a comprehensive framework.
This framework, known as the Renewed Hope Agenda, encompasses initiatives aimed at enhancing security, promoting socioeconomic development, and fostering inter-communal dialogue to address grievances and facilitate reconciliation.
The government’s approach involves targeted interventions and reforms to create a conducive environment for peace and stability in Northern Nigeria.
Ribadu highlighted President Tinubu’s deliberate efforts to appoint northerners to key security positions, recognizing the importance of local insight in crafting effective solutions.
Acknowledging the demanding nature of their roles, Ribadu underscored the need for dexterity, hard work, and consensus-building across security and political structures.
He recounted the devastating impact of terrorist attacks, including major incidents in 2022, such as the Abuja-Kaduna train attack and the attack on the Guards Battalion in Abuja.
“This role is not a tea party; it is a demanding job that requires dexterity, hard work, and consensus building across security and political structures. The figures we encountered in terms of both attacks and casualties in May 2023 were heart-wrenching. As recently as 2022, Nigeria witnessed four major terrorist attacks: the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train, an attack on the Guards Battalion in Abuja, the Kuje Prison attack, and another at a church in Owo, Ondo State.”
Ribadu highlighted the administration’s successes since assuming office, including the prevention of organized terrorist attacks and the securement of the release of abducted individuals without paying ransom.
“Since assuming office, we have successfully freed over a thousand individuals, many of whom were villagers held captive for as long as two to three years. We have successfully secured the release of abducted students from the Federal University of Gusau and school children in Kuriga, among others. These results were achieved without paying any ransom. Our approach utilizes evidence as the foundation of our non-kinetic strategies.”
The government has also reopened trials of Boko Haram terrorism suspects and initiated prosecutions in multiple courts across the country.
Furthermore, Ribadu emphasized the Nigerian military’s ongoing operations targeting insurgent groups like Boko Haram and bandits operating in Northern Nigeria, demonstrating the government’s commitment to addressing security challenges through both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies.
