Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has lamented the worsening insecurity and poverty in northern Nigeria, describing the situation as a "curse" that has crippled development and prospects in the region. Speaking at the Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit (NNIIS) 2025 organized by the Northern Elders Forum in Abuja, Dogara warned that insecurity and poverty have reached catastrophic levels requiring urgent national attention.
Dogara stated that the extensive bloodshed and violence across the North have created a spiritual burden, negatively affecting the region’s development despite the hard work of its people. He urged all 19 northern states to pool resources and collaborate aggressively to tackle insecurity, emphasizing that external help is unlikely to resolve the crisis.
Dogara further underscored that the development of northern Nigeria is critical for the country’s overall progress, calling it a national emergency. "If the vast number of people we have in the north are not developed, Nigeria is going nowhere," he said.
While Dogara advocated for northern ownership of the security challenges, former Senate President Bukola Saraki disagreed, calling for a holistic national response involving federal, state, and private sectors. Saraki noted the efforts of some states, such as Nasarawa and Zamfara, in innovating security solutions but stressed the need for a clear national strategy.
Dogara’s remarks highlight the dire need for focused attention on northern Nigeria’s problems, recognizing the impact of insecurity and poverty not only on the region but the entire nation’s development.