The mouthpiece of the North, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has said that Nigeria’s worsening security crisis has escalated to what could be described as a “state of war”.
To this end, it urged the federal government to adopt extraordinary measures to address the crisis.
This position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 38th meeting of the organisation’s board of trustees held in Abuja.
The meeting, presided over by the chairman of the board, Bashir M. Dalhatu, brought together prominent northern leaders, including former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed; former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed D. Abubakar; former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, and former president of the United Nations General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, among others.
In the communiqué, the forum said Nigeria’s security challenges have gone beyond insurgency, banditry and communal clashes to a full-scale crisis threatening the country’s survival.
“The scale, persistence and human cost of violence demand a fundamental shift in national priorities,” the ACF said.
It also said escalating security threatens not just lives, but also the very stability and future of the nation. The government must act with urgency and clarity of purpose.
The forum lamented that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been killed or displaced across states such as Borno, Plateau, Niger and Kwara, noting that the casualties also include members of the armed forces.
According to the ACF, the humanitarian toll of the crisis has left families shattered, livelihoods destroyed and communities traumatised, while the nation’s economy continues to suffer severe setbacks.
It further warned that insecurity is crippling agricultural activities, particularly in northern Nigeria, disrupting supply chains and worsening inflation.
“Redirecting national resources toward security is not a diversion from economic development; it is a prerequisite for it,” the communiqué stated.
The forum called on the federal government to adopt what it described as a “wartime approach”, including the temporary suspension or scaling down of non-essential projects in order to concentrate resources on tackling insecurity.
ACF noted that while development remains important, restoring security must take precedence.
“Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. The escalating security crisis threatens not just lives, but the very stability and future of the nation,” the ACF warned.
The group concluded that until Nigerians can live, work and travel without fear, meaningful national progress would remain unattainable, urging decisive and comprehensive action to secure the country without further delay.
1SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER NOW
Support MATAZ ARISING’ journalism of integrity and credibility.
Good journalism ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
We ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
TEXT AD: To advertise here – Email ad@matazarising.com
LATEST POSTS
-
Peter Obi Faces Petition for Allegedly Travelling with Passenger Using Fake Identities
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas A fresh petition has been submitted to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, calling for an investigation into Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi over allegations that he repeatedly travelled with a passenger who allegedly used fake identities to board flights. The petition, dated July 12, 2026,…
-
Afrophobia: Should Nigeria ask South African companies to leave?
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas Monday Lines 2 Afrophobia: Should Nigeria ask South African companies to leave? By Lasisi Olagunju (Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 6 July, 2026). Jacob Zuma was President of South Africa when he declared on October 21, 2013 that South Africa should not “think like Africans in Africa, generally.” The remark,…
-
Why I did not take Brazil’s penalty against Norway – Vinicius
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas Brazil’s hopes of ending their long wait for World Cup glory came to a painful end after a 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16, with Erling Haaland scoring twice to eliminate the five-time champions. The aftermath of the defeat was dominated by questions over why Vinicius Júnior did not…
