Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Monday, called on governors of the 19 northern states to forge a united front in tackling insecurity and driving economic transformation across the region.
Speaking at the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, the governor, who chaired the opening day of the summit, commended the organisers, saying the choice of sectors, mining, agriculture, and power, was deliberate and strategic in the region.
Naijaonpoint reports that he spoke through a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris.
The summit, convened by the Northern Elders Forum led by Professor Ango Abdullahi, brought together political leaders, technocrats, investors, and stakeholders to discuss opportunities for the North under the theme “Unlocking Strategic Opportunities.”
“By convening this gathering under the theme Unlocking Strategic Opportunities, you have once again demonstrated a clear-eyed focus on our collective future,” Lawal said.
“The choice of sectors, Mining, Agriculture, and Power, is not accidental. It is a strategic diagnosis of the core pillars upon which the prosperity of Northern Nigeria must be built. In Zamfara, we are aware of the paradox we face: a land blessed with immense mineral wealth and vast arable land, yet our people have not fully reaped the dividends of these endowments.”
Lawal stressed that without security, no meaningful investment could take place in the region.
“The key question for us as leaders is not what needs to be done, but how we can collectively turn potential into prosperity. To attract necessary investment and industrialise our region for the nation’s benefit, we must move beyond rhetoric and adopt a new approach of collaboration,” he said.
He added, “We must collectively secure people and investments. Security is the fundamental prerequisite for any meaningful development. Investors, both domestic and international, are not philanthropists; they are realists. They will not commit capital where it is not safe. We must integrate our security architectures, share intelligence in real-time, and foster greater community policing to create a secure and predictable environment.”
Zamfara Moving From Illegality To Formalisation
Highlighting efforts in his state, Lawal said Zamfara was making deliberate moves to reposition key sectors.
“In Zamfara, our commitment is clear. We are moving from a past of informality and illegality in the mining sector to a regime of formalisation, regulation, and value addition. We are revitalising our agricultural sector by promoting mechanisation, agro-processing, and access to credit. And we are creating the secure and stable environment that is the bedrock of it all,” he explained.
Governor Lawal rounded off his remarks with a call for stronger inter-state collaboration under what he termed a “Northern Nigerian Economic Compact.”
“My call to action today is for a Northern Nigerian Economic Compact, a binding commitment among the 19 states to speak with one voice on security and economic matters. Create a Single Window for major investors looking to do business across the region. Co-invest in critical infrastructure like power, rail, and fibre optics that connect our states,” he declared.
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