Despite rising insecurity, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, insists the North has the capacity and leadership to turn the situation around, provided leaders and institutions across the region unite and deploy available resources effectively.
Barau made the remark at the 25th Anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna, where he represented the Senate President.
He congratulated the ACF on its Silver Jubilee, describing it as a unifying platform that has consistently championed Northern interests and contributed to national development. Barau insisted that with coordinated political will, the North could replicate security gains recorded in other parts of the country.
“The problems confronting the North are surmountable. We have the capacity, the leadership, and the resources to deal with them. What is required is unity, collaboration, and a coordinated approach”, he said.
He paid tribute to the founding fathers of the ACF for their foresight and commitment, adding that recent security analyses presented at the event should not overshadow the region’s long-standing resilience. “Reports may highlight our challenges, but they do not define who we are”, he noted.
Barau also pointed to the regional spread of terrorism and banditry across West Africa, calling for deeper cooperation among governments and institutions. He emphasized that the North currently enjoys strong representation at the federal level and urged governors to leverage increased revenues and work closely with lawmakers to secure funding for critical security programmes.
“As resources within states are not enough, Mr President is ready to intervene. But the initiative must start from home. Leaders must take ownership”, he said.
Barau urged the ACF to strengthen dialogue among stakeholders, warning that without sustained engagement and policy alignment, meaningful progress would be difficult to achieve.
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