At the recently held Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit 2025 in Abuja, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, delivered a powerful and sobering message on the grave challenges facing northern Nigeria. He warned that the region is confronting a crisis of such magnitude that it can only be described as a spiritual curse marked by relentless bloodshed and escalating poverty.
Dogara lamented the ongoing insecurity, describing its devastating impact on the people and development prospects. “If you are a person of faith, you will understand that we are operating under a curse because it is human blood,” he said. The resulting turmoil has left many citizens ‘sweating without results,’ a metaphor highlighting the frustration experienced by hardworking individuals in the face of harsh realities.
The former speaker called on the governors of the 19 northern states to come together and pool their resources to effectively combat the security crisis. He stressed that reliance on external help is no longer a viable solution – the region must take ownership of its destiny to foster meaningful change. Dogara added that the overall progress of Nigeria is intrinsically linked to the development of its northern population, emphasizing that the north’s crisis should be treated as a national emergency.
Countering Dogara’s call for regional resource consolidation, former Senate President Bukola Saraki argued that a national, structured, and inclusive plan that engages federal, state, and private sectors is necessary to tackle the issue effectively. Saraki further highlighted the achievements of innovative governance in some northern states like Nasarawa and Zamfara as positive examples.
Adding another layer to the discussion, Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, expressed concerns about the north’s youthful population. While this demographic was once considered an asset, many youths have become vulnerable to involvement in criminal activities such as banditry and cybercrime, further complicating the region’s issue of insecurity.
The summit concluded with the adoption of a 10-year development plan (2025-2035) targeting poverty reduction, insecurity mitigation, and the unlocking of key economic sectors like mining, agriculture, and power. The collective hope remains that decisive leadership and collaborative action can reverse the troubling trends and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in northern Nigeria.
More than news- Its Icegate