Toba Owojaiye reporting
Kaduna, Nigeria
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies, describing them as lacking a “human face” and exacerbating poverty in Nigeria, especially in the northern region.
In a communiqué issued by Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, ACF’s National Publicity Secretary. to Truth Live News and other reputable media houses, after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna, the ACF expressed concerns over rising inflation, unemployment, and the deteriorating living standards caused by policy changes like subsidy removal, currency devaluation, and high energy costs.
The livelihoods of many depend on micro-activities. The region faces acute and chronic food insecurity; its youths lack education and skills training. Daunting as these may be, they can be reversed. The time to think big is now,” the communiqué said.
The ACF highlighted the disproportionate impact of these issues on northern communities, emphasizing challenges such as food insecurity, limited education opportunities, and inadequate skills training. The forum urged the government to adopt more inclusive, people-centered economic policies and proposed measures like achieving food self-sufficiency, addressing electricity shortages, and rebalancing population growth through public policies.
Notwithstanding the parlous state of Arewa’s glaring economic challenges, the policies of the current federal government have continued to worsen matters, with little indication of the needed sensitivity to the precarious existential conditions of Arewa people.
“Succinctly stated, economic reforms, while indeed desirable, should not impoverish the same people they are meant to serve. The people may not be alive to reap the putative benefits,” the forum said.
The ACF also called for northern governors to take a unified approach to address regional challenges, including insecurity, agriculture, and healthcare. It warned that if disparities between regions persist, they could deepen divisions and social unrest in the country. Additionally, the ACF criticized public officials’ perceived extravagance, urging them to prioritize transparency and responsible spending to inspire public confidence and ease citizens’ burdens.
The interests of the North will be best served by Northerners.
“The growing food crisis with every through short and long term measures, including imports where needs be but the ultimate solution is to achieve food self-sufficiency.
“People should take responsibility for our fast-growing population. Public policy and the law should be adopted to achieve a balance; and
“Poor electricity supply will continue to hamper efforts to ameliorate poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment in the region. These have to be addressed with utmost urgency,” it said.