Northern elites, under the aegis of Arewa New Agenda (ANA), are set to engage the federal government with a set of proposals on how to proffer enduring solutions to the insecurity and poverty challenges ravaging the region, it emerged over the weekend.
According to the elders, the proposals, if earnestly considered and implemented, promise to pave the way for lasting prosperity for the north and country by extension.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Yayale Ahmed disclosed that as elders, ANA would engage the federal government with a view of implementing the proposals for an enduring solution to the poverty question in the north.
The former SGF spoke while declaring open the Follow-on Conference Tackling Poverty in Northern Nigeria convened by ANA in Abuja.
Also present at the event were former governors: Isa Yuguda and Sani Yerima; Sen. Jonathan Zwingina, Hon. Babangida Ngoruje, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi; Amb. Fatima Adams; and Chairman, National Hajj Commission, Jalal Arabi among several others.
Ahmed said, as elders, “We agreed and submitted to the service of Nigeria and the upliftment of the northern part of Nigeria, not because we are broken but it’s because we are realists.
“We want to change our style and strategies in dealing with the issues and problems of northern Nigeria.
“Our responsibility is not to just say the Government is not working, government must work through our contributions, the government must be responsible through our being responsible, the government must be committed through our commitment.
“We are a patriotic group of Nigerians, the outcomes of these efforts will be communicated to the people that are in power for improvement of the generality of the people”.
ANA Convener, Sen. Ahmad MoAllahyidi, while presenting the proposals explained that it was the outcome of the first ANA one-day dialogue of November 2023 where the concerns of the elders about the northern youth restiveness, crime and criminality ravaging the region that has continued to deepen poverty in the region were reviewed to determine a way forward.
Following this, he said the elders formulated proposals, which include the Pathway to Prosperity Approach that involves matching vulnerable households and communities with the necessary skills to actively participate in the local economy.
He said in the first instance the initiative will support 100,000 vulnerable Households per State to increase production and productivity within 15 months.
The second proposal pertains to farming and agriculture, recognizing that northern Nigeria, like the majority of the country, relies heavily on agriculture as its primary economy.
According to MoAllahyidi, despite Nigeria’s agrarian nature, only 35% of its arable land is currently cultivated, ANA proposes aligning with the Federal government’s goal to expand arable land in the country to 65% within four years.
The group will also suggest to the government, the establishment of Integrated Enterprising Productivity Inclusion Platforms in each of the 19 Northern States.
The initiative is projected to generate approximately 10 million jobs for both youth and other demographics.
MoAllahyidi said: “The model has the potential to generate over N50 trillion cumulative per capital income annually, while insurgency, banditry, and other social vices will be reduced drastically.
“It will also boost our foreign reserve earnings and stabilize our economy.
“Training of youths on renewable energy systems (Solar, Wind, and Biomass) as a component of livelihoods enhancement and response to climate change.
“Passing on the gift is a social intervention concept and the anticipated result from the scheme is to service up to 1000 households per State for the 19 States.
“Another proposal is the Tissue culture for propagation of seedlings which is a simplified neglected intervention. This is a concept that builds an average of 2 million seedlings a year using micropropagation”.
Furthermore, ANA emphasized the importance of the Federal government actively supporting the northern States in leveraging the Nigerian Start-Up for Businesses Act of 2022 which would enable companies in the region to conduct research, provide training, and develop globally impactful products.
“Northern State will receive immediate benefit by having its young companies founded under the Start-up Act to develop unique products or services and bring them to the market”, he added.
ANA has however appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider some of its policy measures, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sanctions on Niger Republic, particularly the closure of borders, noting that the reconsideration is necessary due to the negative implications for the economy of the States in the north.
Furthermore, while endorsing the Federal government’s decision to temporarily suspend the National Social Investment Program (NSIP), ANA emphasized the program’s vital role as a critical intervention by the Federal Government.
Noting that it is imperative to urge the committee reviewing the programme to be proactive in fulfilling its mandate, MoAllahyidi said, “It is important to urge the Committee reviewing the program to take a deep dive into the functionality and the social impact of the program so that it can reach the targeted vulnerable households that are much in need.
“This will enable the program to deliver on its mandate in the face of the worsening economic situation in the country.
“The suspension of the program should serve as an avenue to correct the public-held perception of the abysmal performance of the NSIP by taking a cue from other models around the world such as the Cuban Model, the Bangladesh model, the Tanzanian model that has succeeded in reaching the people most in need so that it can be customized and adapted accordingly.”
