Insecurity In The North Threatening Nigeria’s Stability – Prof. Siddique

A university don and Director of the Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training (CEDDERT), Zaria, Prof. Abubakar Siddique, on Saturday, raised alarm that the rising insecurity in Northern Nigeria poses a grave threat to the stability of the entire country.

Siddique, a professor of Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said the North had become the epicentre of multidimensional poverty, economic stagnation and worsening security crises, warning that unless decisive action is taken, the situation could undermine national cohesion.

He spoke as guest speaker at the General Hassan Usman Katsina 2nd Memorial Conference organised by the New Vision Development Initiative (NEVDI), led by a former Military Administrator of Niger State, Col. Lawan Gwadabe (retd), in Kaduna.

According to him, statistics show that 65 per cent of Nigerians classified as multi-dimensionally poor reside in the North, making the region the most deprived in the country.

He added that the worsening poverty indices are fuelling insecurity, creating what he described as a “poverty–insecurity trap”.

“The implications for Northern Nigeria are profound,” he warned.

“The region’s economic stagnation and human-capital crisis are undermining national growth and development. As Nigeria’s population continues to grow, the need for effective solutions to these challenges becomes increasingly urgent.”

The professor painted a bleak picture, noting that an estimated 10 million Nigerian children are out of school, 60 per cent of whom are in northern states. He also disclosed that youth unemployment has exceeded 50 per cent in some parts of the North.

Beyond economic deprivation, he said climate stress was aggravating insecurity, pointing to the loss of 350,000 hectares of land to desertification annually.

He added, “The security situation is equally alarming. Since 2009, the Boko Haram insurgency has claimed over 35,000 lives and displaced 2.5 million people. Banditry and kidnappings have also become rampant, with hundreds of villages raided and thousands abducted. These crises are interconnected, fuelling a poverty–insecurity trap that threatens national stability.”

Siddique called for urgent and holistic interventions, including governance reforms, security sector re-engineering, massive educational transformation, and economic diversification tailored to the needs of northern communities.

He stressed that failure to address these structural problems would continue to erode Nigeria’s unity, weaken institutions, and compromise national security.

The conference, which attracted retired military leaders, academics, policymakers, and civil society actors, also witnessed tributes to the late General Hassan Usman Katsina, the former military governor of Northern Nigeria who died in 1995.

Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd), in his remarks delivered through NEVDI Chairman, Col. Gwadabe urged northern political leaders to emulate General Katsina’s humility, patriotism, and commitment to public service.

He described the late Katsina as “a great icon of Northern Nigeria’s development whose humility, patriotism and lifelong pursuit of peace remain instructive for today’s leaders”.

Babangida praised his contributions to institution-building and national unity, noting that the late general worked tirelessly to ensure stability during some of Nigeria’s most turbulent periods.

Similarly, former Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Alani Akirinade (retd), hailed the late Katsina as a “distinguished military leader and patriot”, recalling his legacy of service, integrity and dedication to Nigeria’s unity.

Represented by former Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Major General Paul Tarfa (retd), Akirinade said General Katsina’s leadership during the civil war was particularly remarkable.

According to him, Katsina oversaw the expansion of the armed forces, ensured timely payment of soldiers’ entitlements, and spearheaded post-war resettlement and rehabilitation efforts.

He added, “He was a prince among soldiers and a soldier among princes. His exemplary leadership during Nigeria’s most trying times stands out in our military history.”

General Hassan Katsina, who died at 62, served as Military Governor of the then Northern Region, Chief of Army Staff, and later Deputy Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters. He is widely credited with helping to preserve national unity during and after the civil war.