By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The coalitions of Nothern Groups under the aegies of Northern Consensus Movement, (NCM) have called for the Federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to create the Ministry of Northern Nigeria Development.
Speaking at a World Press Conference in Kaduna, the President of the Amalgamated 592 groups, Dr., Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu Said” We have critically evaluated the Socio-economic Challenges of the North, we found it appropriate and make Bold to demand for the creation of the Ministry of Northern Nigeria.
Dr., Awwal explained “We have concluded that the creation of the Ministry will address the infrastructural deficits and challenges of decades of neglected Nothern Nigeria.
According to him, Once created, emphasis will be placed on specific project implementation, as in Education, Health, Security, Agriculture, Economy, Environment, Women and Youth Development on Skill acquisition activities Management.
“The Challenges of Contemporary Northern Nigeria is the Imperative
that draw the attention of Nigerians, particularly our politicians who have been unable to confront the challenges that have dragged our politics down the drain into the incessant Northern economy undermining our unity, integration, and ultimately our economic, social, and political progress.
“The Northern Governors should ensure cooperation with the private sector to check all bottlenecks inhibiting the development of the industrial sector as much as possible to create self-reliance. This will enhance efforts towards the development of agro-allied industries in terms of food processing, textiles, leather, and manufacturing.
He noted that “Northern Nigeria with over 75% of Nigeria’s landmass and over
77% of its arable land in addition to harboring over 95% livestock industry in the country which constitutes the major resources of the country, “This is so because the 19 Northern States accounts for 80% of the nation’s landmass”.
“Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a strategy for massive Agriculture plantation or agroforestry in Northern Nigeria which will greatly help in the promotion of agro-allied industries, check desertification, promotion of soil fixation, and generally create a better environment.
“It will also be an important means of employment generation”.
He maintained that “Studies have shown that only about 3% of females complete secondary school education in many parts of the Northern states, hence access to quality education should be improved to integrate specialized programs to train qur’anic school teachers”.
The Northern voters have always determined who to become the president of Nigeria through popular votes.
“But the Northern political competitors through propaganda have always used population against the region, claiming that the North wants to take power at all cost, and using it to dominate the polity”.
“The population of Northern Nigeria is estimated to be over 60% of the North total, with nearly 75% below the age of 35 years, this has given the North Political advantage, with higher representation in the National Assembly, because democracy is a game of numbers.
“This predicament has become a problem that has eaten into the fabric of our society, inflicting pain, suffering, and division on us, despite who is the head of government”.
“We need to understand the nature of this political problem so that we could begin to develop much more leadership policies for the good of our Northern Society and people”.
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