Northern states must speak with one voice on insecurity, economy, says Dauda Lawal

Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara, says the 19 northern states must forge a binding compact to speak with one voice on security and economic issues in the region.

Lawal spoke on Monday at the northern Nigeria investment and industrialisation summit held at the Abuja Continental Hotel.

The summit was convened by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), led by Ango Abdullahi, with the theme, “Unlocking strategic opportunities.”

Sulaiman Idris, Lawal’s spokesperson, quoted the governor in a statement as commending the NEF for the “consistent commitment to the development of the region.”

“By convening this gathering under the theme ‘Unlocking Strategic Opportunities’, you have once again demonstrated a clear-eyed focus on our collective future,” he said.

“The choice of sectors—mining, agriculture, and power—is not accidental. It is a strategic diagnosis of the core pillars upon which the prosperity of northern Nigeria must be built.

“In Zamfara, we are aware of the paradox we face: a land blessed with immense mineral wealth and vast arable land, yet our people have not fully reaped the dividends of these endowments.”

The Zamfara governor said the real challenge for leaders is not identifying what should be done but finding ways to turn potential into prosperity through investment and industrialisation.

Lawal stressed that security must underpin all efforts, noting that investors would not commit funds without safety.

“We must collectively secure people and investments. Security is the fundamental prerequisite for any meaningful development,” he said.

“Investors, both domestic and international, are not philanthropists; they are realists — they will not commit capital where it is not safe.

“We must integrate our security architectures, share intelligence in real time, and foster greater community policing to create a secure and predictable environment.”

The governor said Zamfara is formalising the mining sector, promoting mechanisation in agriculture, and strengthening regulation to attract capital and add value.

“In Zamfara, our commitment is clear. We are moving from a past of informality and illegality in the mining sector to a regime of formalisation, regulation, and value addition.

“We are revitalising our agricultural sector by promoting mechanisation, agro-processing, and access to credit,” the governor said.

“We are creating the secure and stable environment that is the bedrock of it all.”

Lawal also called for the creation of a “northern Nigerian economic compact” to institutionalise cooperation among the 19 states.

“My call to action today is for a Northern Nigerian Economic Compact — a binding commitment among the 19 states to speak with one voice on security and economic matters,” he added.

“Create a single window for major investors looking to do business across the region. Co-invest in critical infrastructure like power, rail, and fibre optics that connect our states.”