Zamfara State governor Dauda Lawal has called for a binding commitment among the 19 northern states to unite on security and economic matters, stressing that “a safe North is a bankable North.”
Lawal made the call on Monday while chairing the opening of the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialization Summit at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
The summit, organised by the Northern Elders Forum under the leadership of Prof. Ango Abdullahi, was themed “Unlocking Strategic Opportunities” and gathered key stakeholders across the region.
In his remarks, Lawal commended the Northern Elders Forum for its consistency in pushing for the region’s progress, noting that the choice of mining, agriculture, and power as focal sectors was strategic.
He said that Zamfara, despite its vast mineral wealth and arable land, remained a paradox where the people had yet to fully benefit.
“The key question for us as leaders is not what needs to be done, but how we can collectively turn potential into prosperity,” he said, urging northern leaders to collaborate beyond politics.
“Investors are not philanthropists; they are realists. They will not commit capital where it is not safe. We must integrate our security architectures, share intelligence in real-time, and foster community policing.”
The governor outlined Zamfara’s efforts to formalise mining, expand mechanised agriculture, and create a stable environment for investment.
He also called for the creation of a Northern Nigerian Economic Compact, which would provide a single investment window for major investors and promote co-investment in critical infrastructure like power, rail, and fibre optics.
“This is the path to unlocking the prosperity of our region and contributing meaningfully to national development,” Lawal said.
