Summit: North calls for equitable distribution of resources to address regional imbalance

At the end of a two-day summit organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) in Kaduna on  Wednesday, participants have called for an equitable resource distribution to address regional imbalance.

This, according to them, is essential as  Northern Nigeria has key infrastructural projects in need of serious attention like highways, gas pipelines (AKK), oil exploration (Kolmani) and rural irrigation schemes.

A communique issued at the end of the summit and signed by Dr Abubakar Gambo Umar, Director General, SABMF, on behalf of participants, also noted that Northern region contributes significantly to national stability, development and electoral outcomes.

It said, “The problem of Almajiri and out-of-school children remains a key concern of Northern Nigeria.

The communique also asserted that agricultural value chains and rural industrialisation are crucial for employment and food security, saying, “Ongoing economic and security reforms require inclusive and non-kinetic approaches.”

Participants also said federal and state collaboration is essential for regional prosperity as well as  institutionalised periodic government-citizen dialogue platforms at the national and state levels.

It also  commended  the government’s high performance in delivering electoral promises in many areas, especially security, infrastructural development, and praised the increased equitable resource availability to subnational authorities.

It urged substantial investment in education to address the out-of-school children crisis, especially in the North.

The communique also called for increased and accelerated infrastructural development in Nigeria. Strengthen agricultural value chains, livestock development and establish agro-allied industries for economic diversifications.

Participants canvassed for continued support for economic and security reforms with inclusive, community-driven, non-kinetic methods. Engage civil society, traditional and religious leaders in policy advocacy and public mobilisation.

The summit concluded that Northern Nigeria acknowledges and commends the administration’s high performance in fulfilling its electoral promises in many areas and also appreciates subsisting challenges.

Participants call for more commitment to transparency, fairness and equity as elements that would foster national unity and sustenance of the nation’s democracy.

It further called for continued collaboration among government, citizens and all stakeholders as the surest path to peace, justice and prosperity in Nigeria.

Participants also commended President Bola Tinubu for the engagement as well as Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Secretary to Government of the Federation, George Akume, National Security Adviser,  Nuhu Ribadu, Governor Uba Sani, Northern governors and others for the success recorded during the event.

READ ALSO: Bagudu: Tinubu has been faithful to the North, fair to all