Governor Dauda Lawal has called for a binding commitment among the 19 Northern states to speak with one voice on security and economic matters.
The governor made the during the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialization Summit held in Abuja.
A statement by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said the summit was organized by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), under the leadership of Professor Ango Abdullahi, with the theme “Unlocking Strategic Opportunities.
Governor Lawal commended the forum for its consistent dedication to Northern progress.
He said the choice of focus areas such as mining, agriculture, and power was deliberate, describing them as the 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 governor said. “The question for us as leaders is not what needs to be done, but how we can collectively turn potential into prosperity.”
Governor Lawal emphasized that a safe North is a bankable North and urged leaders across the region to deepen collaboration beyond politics in order to attract investment.
“We must collectively secure our people and investments. Security is the fundamental prerequisite for meaningful development. Investors are realists; they will not commit capital where it is unsafe. We must integrate our security architectures, share intelligence in real time, and strengthen community policing to build a secure and predictable environment,” he stressed.
He further outlined Zamfara’s approach, which includes moving from informality and illegality in mining to a regime of regulation and value addition, revitalizing agriculture through mechanization and agro-processing, and creating a stable, investment-friendly environment.
The governor called for the creation of a Northern Nigerian Economic Compact—a unified framework for the 19 states to speak with one voice on security and the economy.
He also proposed a “Single Window” for investors, alongside joint investments in critical infrastructure such as power, rail, and fibre optics to connect the region.
The event brought together key stakeholders from across the region.
REL/AMINU DALHATU.
