Poor governance, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima, has a “direct bearing” on the recent wave of banditry and kidnapping in the north-western geopolitical zone.
Shettima gave a speech while hosting CONSCCIMA at the presidential palace in Abuja.
CONSCCIMA is a coalition of Coalition of Northern States’ Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture— and led by Dalhatu Abubakar, the coalition’s president.
According to the vice president, “re-engineering and re-strategizing” northern affairs is required to propel the area towards “accelerated” development.
Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara are the seven states that make up the north-west.
Particularly, Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto have been hotbeds of banditry in recent years, leading to the kidnapping and murder of locals.
“It is imperative for the north to embark on the re-strategizing and re-engineering of the region to reposition it for accelerated development,” Shettima said.
“Most of the issues highlighted by the president of CONSCCIMA are very poignant, as these are issues that touch the lives and wellbeing of our people.
“There can never be development without peace, and there can never be peace without development”
“Especially in the north-west through the Pulaku initiative. The Pulaku initiative is a robust solution to addressing the challenges in the north-west.
“It is a solution aimed at addressing the challenges of banditry, kidnapping, and the situation in the north-west, which cannot be divorced from the issue of governance.
