Tag: Northern elders

Northern Elders rally for $10bn regional investment

Aminu Imam
Northern elders rally for investment

…As ACF reaffirms neutrality ahead of 2027 Northern Nigeria’s two foremost socio-political blocs — the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) — have taken significant steps to reposition the region, with one focusing on economic revival and the other reinforcing political neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections. At the just-concluded Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit (NNIIS) in Abuja, the NEF announced the creation of the Northern Nigeria Economic Development Council (NNEDC) — a new institution tasked with driving industrialisation, harmonising policy, and attracting investment…

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NEF unveils Investment Summit for North’s economic revival

Aminu Imam
NEF unveils Investment Summit3

The Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), has declared that the North “cannot remain a sleeping giant”, as it unveiled plans for its investment and industrialisation summit designed to revive the region’s economy, harness its vast resources, and tackle insecurity and unemployment. Speaking yesterday on a television programme, NEF’s spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jiddere, said the North could no longer ignore its economic challenges or depend on others for development. “The North contributed to Nigeria immensely right from the colonial era, even politically”, Jiddere said, “But unfortunately, challenges started arising, especially as a…

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“Declare state-of-emergency on insecurity”, Northern Elders urge Tinubu

Aminu Imam
NEF urges Tinubu

…Say Nigeria’s stability, regional security under threat The Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a ‘state of emergency’ in northern Nigeria, citing the extraordinary scale of insecurity and the government’s constitutional and international obligations to protect lives. The Forum lamented that state security agencies remain overstretched, under-resourced, and in some cases complicit through inaction, leaving citizens vulnerable while eroding public trust in government. In a communiqué issued yesterday by its spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the NEF expressed grave concern over the spate of…

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Northern Elders raise alarm over marginalisation, insecurity, and underdevelopment

Aminu Imam
Northern Elders

Prominent Northern advocacy groups – the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) – have jointly raised strong concerns over what they describe as deepening marginalisation of Northern Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Both groups, in separate but similarly themed events in Kaduna, accused the federal government of neglecting the region across critical sectors including education, infrastructure, agriculture, and security. At the Government-Citizens Engagement Forum, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, (NEF) Chairman, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, painted a bleak picture of the North’s socio-economic…

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Northern Elders raise alarm over Niger flood disaster

Aminu Imam
Northern Elders raise alarm

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has expressed deep sorrow over the devastating flood disaster that has struck Niger State, claiming the lives of over 160 people and destroying billions of naira worth of infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods. The Forum called on the Federal Government to take swift and comprehensive measures to support flood victims, including the deployment of relief materials, provision of medical and psychosocial support, and restoration of essential services. In a condolence message issued by its spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the Forum conveyed heartfelt sympathies to the…

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Northern Elders again reject Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bill

Aminu Imam
Northern Elders' Forum endorse

Back 19 Govs., monarchs on withdrawal The Northern Elders’ Forum, (NEF), has endorsed the stand taken by the Northern Governors’ Forum, (NGF), in conjunction with the Northern Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers, about the proposed Tax Reform Bill by President Bola Tinubu. Recall that the 19 State governors in the Northern region had aired their strong displeasure on the recent Tax Reform Bill the Federal Government submitted to the National Assembly for approval. The governors particularly rejected the proposed shift to a Derivation-based Model for Value-Added Tax (VAT) distribution. The…

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Northern Nigerias existence in next five years uncertain – ACF

Aminu Imam
ACF on North's insecurity

Says regions insecurity out of control The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed fear that banditry and insurgency have gone out of control in Northern Nigeria to the extent that it may threaten the cohesive existence of the entire region in the next five years. The ACF’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Alhaji Bashir Muhammad ?alhatu, has expressed the Forums concern over the current insecurity in the North, and warned that banditry and general insecurity have posed serious threat to the survival of the region. ?alhatu issued the…

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Northern, Southern Elders disagree over new Constitution

Aminu Imam
Northern, Southern elders

Northern and Southern elders are divided over calls for a new Nigerian Constitution. The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Middle-Belt Forum (MBF) advocate for amending the current Constitution, while the Southern groups like PANDEF, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Middle-Belt Forum advocate for drafting a new Constitution, arguing that the 1999 Constitution (as amended), imposed by the military, is flawed and hinders true federalism. They believe a new Constitution should address structural imbalances and ensure equity. On the other hand, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), in the North, prefers…

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Northern Elders, Stakeholders lay 7 demands before Tinubu

Aminu Imam

Back #EndBadGovernance in Nigeria protest Some elders and stakeholders in Northern Nigeria have announced their full support for the planned nationwide hunger protest, tagged: #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria scheduled to hold from August 1 to 10. The elders and the stakeholders made their position known in an issued statement signed by Prof. Usman Yusuf; ?Hajia Naja’atu Muhammad; Dr. Salihu Lukman; and ?Dr. Umar Ar?o, also made seven demands to the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government. In the statement obtained by VoL on Wednesday, the Northern elders and stakeholders said that Nigeria had long…

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Nationwide Planned Protest: “Give Tinubu more time” – Northern, Southern elders appeal to youths

Aminu Imam
Northern, Southern elders appeal

Certain concerned elders from the North and Southern parts of the country, under the aegis of Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPDN), have appealed to masterminds of the planned youths protest to shelve the plan. The faceless groups behind the nationwide protest operating under the hashtag: #EndBadGovernance, have fixed the action for August 1. But National Coordinator of the CNPDN, Ralpheal Okorie, in an issued statement yesterday, urged the youth to concede to the appeal of President Tinubu over the much anticipated nationwide protest. The leaders noted…

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