The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has expressed concern over the worsening socio-economic conditions in Northern Nigeria, highlighting that many residents in the region cannot afford even a single square meal a day.
This alarming reality, according to the group, is largely due to the persistent insecurity and economic hardship plaguing the area.
This disclosure was made during a one-day community engagement held in Katsina, chaired by Professor Sani Abubakar Lugga, the fifth Wazirin Katsina.
Themed “Imperative of Popular Participation in Tackling Socio-Economic Challenges Bedeviling Nigeria Through Community Solutions,” the event brought together leaders from various sectors to address the region’s challenges.
Speaking to reporters, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the National Coordinator of CNG, stressed the severity of the situation, describing insecurity as “walking with its two legs” across Northern Nigeria.
He lamented that the region’s leaders have failed to adequately address the critical issues, and urged communities to take action.
“People can no longer afford three square meals. We are not even talking about three square meals—people cannot afford a single square meal per day,” Charanchi stated.
He emphasized the need for collective responsibility, noting that while government leadership is crucial, communities themselves have a significant role to play in finding solutions.
According to him, the time for lamentation is over, as the problems facing Nigeria are well-known to all.
“Insecurity is rampant in the North. This is why we realized that leaders alone cannot solve these problems. We, as citizens, must also contribute our quota to lift ourselves out of this quagmire.
The CNG decided, after a stakeholders’ roundtable in Abuja, to engage community members directly. We need each and every person to understand how they can contribute to reducing insecurity, economic hardship, and other crises that have besieged the North,” Charanchi said.
The community engagement, he noted, was aimed at empowering local leaders with the knowledge and tools to return to their communities and mobilize efforts to combat the region’s socio-economic challenges.
Charanchi also touched on the broader national issues of corruption, economic decline, and infrastructure decay, particularly in the education and health sectors.
He attributed these problems to what he termed a “crisis of leadership,” lamenting the absence of true leaders who prioritize the welfare of the people.
“In as much as we can get the right leaders—leaders who have the country at heart, who act like messengers of God, and who treat the nation as they would treat their family—we will get it right.
Unfortunately, what we have in this country are not leaders, but politicians. Politicians are only concerned with securing the next election, while true leaders think about securing the next generation,” he said.
Charanchi further expressed doubt that the current political class has the fear of God, a sense of humanity, or a commitment to service. He urged communities to take charge of their destiny, emphasizing that governance starts at the grassroots.
Speaking at the event, Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Bala Zango, commended the efforts of CNG and reiterated his administration’s commitment to addressing insecurity.
According to Zango, Katsina has become a model for other Northern states in the fight against insecurity.
“Katsina State Government has done a lot, not only in the area of security but also in the economy and other sectors. We have been at the forefront of addressing insecurity, and our state serves as an example for others,” Zango said.
He also advised the youth to avoid the path of violence, drawing lessons from the recent nationwide Hunger/End Bad Governance protests, where peaceful demonstrations turned violent. He urged the youth to resort to dialogue as the best means of solving problems.
“Rather than protest, let us resort to dialogue. We have seen the loss of lives and destruction of property caused by protests. Dialogue remains the best solution to our problems,” he advised.
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