Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has urged his colleagues in the North to work together to empower the people as key production forces for the region’s growth.

Mr Sani spoke during the inaugural meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) at the Kaduna State Government House on Friday.

The governor stressed that achieving this would require deliberate policy designs and implementation in ways that recognise the critical role of leadership in leading the initiatives.

According to him, regionalism, in the context of what the North represents, is an expression embedded in shared identity and purpose, anchored on mutual respect and cooperation between and among states.

Mr Sani, however, expressed dismay that the Northern region has been grappling with insecurity while human development indices have been declining.

He explained that there was an urgent need to develop a common strategy and an operational plan to tackle insecurity in the region.

Mr Sani said, ”We must establish a Command and Control Centre to coordinate our joint efforts against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements in our region.”

He, therefore, warned that, for the forum to remain relevant, it must ensure unity among its people and collaborate on development issues.

Mr Sani added, “We must fashion a marshal plan for the development of the North. Our situation is dire and requires concerted and sustained action.

“We must, therefore, effectively mobilise our people around this common agenda, create the enabling environment, and leverage the human and material resources of the region. 

“Deliver on our promises to the people, and at all times put the welfare of the people at the centre of our development agenda for the northern region.”

Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State chaired the meeting.

Those in attendance were governors of Kaduna, Plateau, Borno, Zamfara and Katsina, while those of Kano, Benue, Yobe, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Taraba were represented by their deputies.

(NAN)