Stop making inflammatory statements, ACF warns northern leaders

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has asked religious, traditional and political leaders to refrain from inflammatory statements in order not to worsen the tension in the region.

In a communique issued after the first meeting of the newly elected national working committee (NWC) headed by Audu Ogbeh, former minister of agriculture, the forum asked the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to “arrest the deteriorating security situation” in the north.

The meeting held in Kaduna state on Wednesday.

In the communique signed by Emmanuel Yahwe, spokesman of the forum, ACF called on the governors of northern states to pay adequate attention to agriculture.

The forum also said school enrollment in the region has remained low, appealing to governors of the 19 states in the region “to take urgent steps to enhance school enrollment and eradicate
the rampant incidence of street begging which is very unhealthy for the overall
development of the north.”

“Northern states should take advantage of the N75 billion loan to farmers in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing in Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL),” the communique read.

“Unemployment has become a big menace to the northern region. State governors are advised to design employment schemes for our teeming youths who have become frustrated and pose an additional threat to the security of the north and the country.

“State governors are also advised to key into programmes of the federal government designed to offer employment to the youth and alleviate poverty.”