The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has issued a stark warning, stating that the escalating insecurity across Nigeria has now reached a "state of war." The ACF is calling for an immediate reordering of national priorities by the Federal Government, emphasizing that security should be treated as the country's most pressing emergency.
This declaration was made in a communiqué released following the 38th meeting of the ACF Board of Trustees on Wednesday, which was signed by its Chairman, Bashir M. Dalhatu. The meeting saw participation from numerous prominent northern leaders, including former senior government officials, diplomats, and security chiefs. Their discussions focused intensely on the ongoing and persistent violence plaguing the nation, with a particular emphasis on the northern regions.
The forum observed that Nigeria's security challenges have moved beyond isolated incidents of insurgency, banditry, and communal disputes. Instead, these issues have coalesced into widespread violence that poses a significant threat to the nation's stability.
The communiqué highlighted that the combined effects of insurgency in the Northeast, banditry and kidnappings in the Northwest and North-Central, alongside farmer-herder conflicts, have created a perilous situation demanding swift and decisive government action.
"The scale, persistence, and human cost of the violence necessitate a fundamental shift in national priorities," the ACF stated. They argued that this crisis should no longer be considered just one of many governance issues but rather the paramount national emergency requiring immediate attention.
The ACF expressed profound concern regarding the human impact of the ongoing crisis. They revealed that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been killed or displaced in states like Borno, Plateau, Niger, and Kwara, among others. The forum also noted that security forces, including senior military officers, have suffered casualties.
The forum lamented the severe disruption to families, livelihoods, and communities, warning that the long-term social ramifications of this crisis could be devastating.
Furthermore, the ACF drew attention to the significant economic consequences of the insecurity, especially its impact on agriculture, which is crucial to the northern region's economy. Farming activities have been severely hampered, contributing to food scarcity, inflation, and the decline of rural economies.
"Insecurity is now directly undermining Nigeria’s economy. The longer the crisis persists, the more expensive it becomes to fix," the communiqué read.
The ACF stressed that reallocating national resources to combat insecurity should not be viewed as a hindrance to development but rather as an essential step towards achieving sustainable growth.
Advocating for a "war-time approach," the group urged the government to temporarily pause or reduce spending on non-essential projects and instead channel these funds towards resolving the security crisis.
"Extraordinary threats require extraordinary measures," the ACF stated, underscoring that securing the nation must take precedence over all other developmental initiatives.
The forum issued a grave warning, asserting that Nigeria is at a critical juncture, with escalating violence posing a serious threat to its unity and future prospects.
They called upon the government to act with urgency and clarity, mobilizing all available resources and demonstrating strong leadership to effectively tackle the crisis.
The communiqué concluded by stating that meaningful national development will remain elusive until Nigerians can live, travel, and work without fear, particularly in rural areas.
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