The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has raised fresh concerns over the deteriorating security situation, rising poverty, and growing humanitarian crisis across Northern Nigeria, cautioning that persistent violence is displacing communities and crippling livelihoods.
The warning was issued on Wednesday by the Chairman of the Forum, Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, in his welcome address at the 79th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the ACF, held at its secretariat in Kaduna.
Osuman noted that conditions in the region have worsened significantly since the last NEC meeting in August 2025, with residents grappling with insecurity, natural disasters, loss of lives, and increasingly harsh socio-economic realities.
“Terrorism, armed banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping are on the rise, as witnessed in Kwara, Southern Kaduna, Katsina, Benue, and other locations. The consequences have been devastating, with families and communities violently uprooted and displaced,” he said.
He explained that the mass displacement of people has resulted in congested camps and makeshift settlements lacking basic services, exposing vulnerable populations to heightened risks of malnutrition and death.
According to him, the persistent attacks and climate of fear have also disrupted education through repeated school closures, weakened rural economies, and limited access to farming, healthcare, and safe travel.
Osuman added that the magnitude of the insecurity has grown so alarming that it has necessitated external military assistance, a development he said underscores the need for urgent and coordinated interventions.
“Our existence as a socio-cultural organisation must not be merely ceremonial or rhetorical; it must be principled, sincere, sacrificial, and action-driven,” he stated, urging ACF state chapters to work closely with governments at all levels to promote peace, stability, and the rehabilitation of affected communities.
He further warned against losing focus ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting that some emerging groups appear more preoccupied with political calculations than with urgent challenges such as out-of-school children, hunger, poverty, and recurring attacks.
While acknowledging the support of some elected and appointed officials, the ACF chairman lamented that many leaders remain disconnected from the Forum’s vision, goals, and programmes.
Osuman called on members to approach their deliberations with sincerity and purpose, stressing that the plight of the most vulnerable must remain at the heart of the Forum’s advocacy.
On internal reforms, he disclosed that the National Working Committee (NWC) had approved the establishment of additional committees, including a nine-member Code of Conduct and Ethics Committee, aimed at strengthening institutional governance.
The committee, he said, will be chaired by Professor Nuhu Mohammed Jamo, a former Dean of the Faculty of Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a legal consultant to the National Assembly on the review of the 1999 Constitution.
He also urged members to adhere strictly to the ACF Constitution, avoid sensationalism, and concentrate on programmes that advance the survival, restoration, and welfare of the people of the region.
As Nigeria moves closer to another election cycle, Osuman emphasized the importance of collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure peaceful and credible polls, alongside sustained civic education.
“The State of the Nation is on the agenda. Positions taken must be fact-based, and speakers should propose practical solutions that will guide remedy, recovery, and progress,” he added.
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