GOVERNORS of Nigeria's 19 northern states have lamented the collapse of vital industries across the region and conceded that there will grave consequence if they fail to address the decay that is currently setting in.

Yesterday, the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) met in Kaduna to address the growing collapse across northern Nigeria, fuelled by the Boko Haram insurgency. While southern Nigeria has been enjoying unprecedented economic growth, the north has suffered from the effects of a refugee crisis, capital flight and collapsing infrastructure. 

At the end of yesterday's meeting, NGF chairman, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, said:  “After exhaustive deliberations, the northern state governors have resolved to adopt a holistic approach towards solving the problems. Should the present leaders fail, the consequences would be better be imagined than experienced.” 

He regretted that the Boko Haram menace, cattle rustling, sporadic killing, kidnapping, herdsmen versus communities clashes, boundary disputes, armed robbery, unemployment, poverty, arms and drugs proliferation, inciting  preaching, the almajiri phenomenon and collapse of industries among others are everywhere in the north. Governor Shettima said that the forum has agreed to set up a committee of attorney generals to look into the criminal justice system, taking into cognisance the current security challenges so as to proffer strict punishments to crimes such as cattle rustling, kidnapping, terrorism, rape and domestic violence. 

Governor Shettima  added: “We commend the federal government for the success so far recorded against the insurgents. This is as a result of the remarkable zeal, total commitment and wilful determination of President Muhammadu Buhari who prioritised the defeat of Boko Haram from the onset.” 

He pleaded with the federal government to assist victims of the recent bomb blast in camps in Adamawa State with intervention funds to alleviate their sufferings. On the fate of the defunct New Nigerian Newspaper, the New Nigerian Development Company and Kaduna Textiles, Governor Shettima said the forum would take pro-active steps that would turn the fortunes of the companies around for better as the governors would receive detailed briefings from the managements at their next meeting.