Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has called on the 19 northern states to forge a united front and speak with one voice on critical issues of security and economic development to transform the region’s vast potential into tangible prosperity. Speaking at the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit (NNIIS) 2025 in Abuja, organized by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Lawal emphasized that unity is essential to address the region’s challenges and capitalize on its abundant resources.The summit, themed Unlocking Strategic Opportunities in Mining, Agriculture, and Power, brought together stakeholders to explore pathways for industrial growth. Lawal commended NEF, led by Ango Abdullahi, for its consistent commitment to the region’s development. “By convening this gathering, you have once again demonstrated a clear-eyed focus on our collective future,” he said, as quoted by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris. He described the focus on mining, agriculture, and power as a “strategic diagnosis” of the core pillars for northern Nigeria’s prosperity.Lawal highlighted Zamfara’s paradox: a state endowed with immense mineral wealth and vast arable land, yet plagued by underdevelopment due to persistent security challenges. “The real challenge for leaders is not identifying what should be done but finding ways to turn potential into prosperity through investment and industrialisation,” he stated. He stressed that security is the foundation for progress, noting that “investors, both domestic and international, are not philanthropists; they are realists. They will not commit capital where it is not safe.”The governor urged northern leaders to collaborate on robust security frameworks to protect lives and investments, creating an enabling environment for economic growth. He pointed to the region’s potential to drive Nigeria’s food security, boost exports, and accelerate industrialization through its arable land, mineral resources, and energy potential. Lawal’s call for unity comes amid ongoing efforts by the federal government to support northern development, including the distribution of N330 billion in social protection funds, with 78% benefiting northern households, as disclosed by President Bola Tinubu at the same summit.The NNIIS 2025 follows recent financial windfalls for states, with the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursing N2.22 trillion in August 2025, a significant increase attributed to President Tinubu’s economic reforms. Lawal’s remarks align with calls from other northern leaders, such as Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule, who urged governors to leverage these resources to transform key sectors while taking responsibility for security.
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