Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has called for immediate and coordinated action to tackle critical issues confronting Northern Nigeria—chief among them, the worsening security crisis, land ownership concerns, and perceived marginalization by the Federal Government.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking during an ACF meeting held on Wednesday in Kaduna, Dalhatu addressed a distinguished gathering of Northern leaders, including former governors Ramalan Yero, Ahmed Makarfi, Ibrahim Shekarau, ex-ministers Lai Mohammed and Simon Lalong, retired Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, Babachir Lawal, and political strategist Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.

Dalhatu expressed dismay at the unabated violence and killings across Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina states, stressing that despite security efforts, the region remains under siege. He affirmed ACF’s commitment to work with political, traditional, and religious leaders to end the crisis swiftly.

The ACF chairman strongly condemned what he described as increasing attacks and discrimination against Northerners residing in Southern Nigeria, calling the trend “painful and deeply regrettable.” He pointed out that while the North has historically welcomed Nigerians from all regions, the same hospitality is not being reciprocated—particularly in the South-East, where Northerners reportedly face severe restrictions on land ownership.

Dalhatu advocated for urgent land reforms across Northern states to prevent the dispossession of locals amid a growing scramble for land by non-indigenous interests. He stressed that state authorities must safeguard the rights of Northerners over their ancestral lands.

He further criticized the Federal Government for discriminatory policies and failure to fulfil legal obligations to the indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja—including the non-payment of compensation and resettlement. Dalhatu insisted that the creation of a state for Abuja’s original inhabitants is long overdue.

Touching on national politics, he warned against early campaigns for the 2027 elections, labeling them a distraction from governance. He urged the North to prioritize leadership that defends regional interests over party loyalty, and recommended a policy review committee to assess the impact of current government programmes on the North.

In his closing remarks, Dalhatu reaffirmed the North’s readiness to compete fairly within Nigeria and the broader African space, citing its vast resources, population strength, and political influence. He emphasized that despite current challenges, the region possesses the capacity to thrive if given equitable opportunities.