Stakeholders from Northern Nigeria have reaffirmed their support for the Federal Government’s ongoing economic and security reforms, urging the continued use of inclusive, community-driven, and non-kinetic strategies to sustain progress and promote national unity.
The position formed part of a 10-point communiqué issued at the end of a two-day Government-Citizen Engagement session hosted by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) at Arewa House, Kaduna, from July 29–30, 2025.
Held under the theme “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity”, the event brought together senior government officials, traditional and religious leaders, academics, civil society groups, and private sector representatives.
President Bola Tinubu was represented by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, while Vice President Kashim Shettima was represented by Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, Special Adviser to the President.
Participants commended the Tinubu administration’s “high and commendable” performance in delivering electoral promises—particularly in security, infrastructure, and economic reforms—but called for greater emphasis on dialogue, education, and grassroots participation in addressing insecurity.
“There is need for a shift from purely kinetic responses to approaches that involve communities, civil society, religious and traditional institutions,” the communiqué stated.
Stakeholders emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of poverty and insecurity through non-violent, participatory strategies, including investment in education and reforms of the Almajiri system to reduce the number of out-of-school children.
Delivering the keynote address, former UN General Assembly President, Professor Tijjani Mohammed Bande, urged Northern leaders to integrate the region’s interests within broader national development goals rather than pursuing isolated regional agendas.
