This Is Where It All Began’ – Gov Sani Reveals Sh*cking Origin Of North’s Insecurity

He warned that unless these underlying issues are comprehensively addressed, the region will continue to experience instability.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Governor Sani made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.

He highlighted that when he assumed office, more than 60 to 65 percent of people in northern Nigeria—particularly in the North-West—faced financial exclusion. This, he said, made many vulnerable youths easy targets for recruitment by terrorist and bandit groups.

Despite the daunting challenges, the governor expressed hope for Nigeria’s economic recovery. He also revealed that over 350,000 children in Kaduna State were out of school at the time he took office.

“I come from the trenches. I’ve fought against successive military regimes in the past, been detained multiple times in pursuit of justice and equality,” Sani stated.

He said his administration’s approach to governance is data-driven, focusing on addressing poverty and underdevelopment. Drawing on his past experience as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, he explained:

“When I assumed office, I prioritized examining poverty indices not only for Kaduna State but the entire North. I had access to data from the Central Bank’s Development Department and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The statistics in 2023 were alarming.”

He stressed that the roots of insecurity are predominantly economic.

“This issue is largely driven by poverty and unemployment. That’s why our youths are easily recruited by bandits.”

Governor Sani outlined some of his administration’s efforts to tackle these problems.

“Recently, I met with the Vice President of the World Bank to assess UNICEF data. Of the 18.2 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, about 70% are in the North. We’re seeing progress in reintegrating these children into the school system, and the numbers are changing gradually.”

However, he cautioned that resolving the insecurity crisis would not be immediate.

“This is a long-term problem that cannot be solved in a few years. We failed to act early. We were passive and lacked a holistic approach when we had the chance.”

On the broader strategy, Governor Sani emphasized that a military or “kinetic” approach alone will not defeat insecurity. He noted that Northern governors and traditional leaders unanimously agree that urgent and coordinated action is essential to address the region’s many challenges.