Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, on Friday issued strong warnings to northern leaders, saying the region faces a serious threat of deeper insecurity, economic collapse and declining social stability if urgent steps are not taken to change its development direction.
Both men spoke at the 25th anniversary dinner of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) held in Kaduna, an event meant to celebrate the long-standing influence of the northern political and cultural group. Instead, the evening turned into a moment of sober reflection as the two prominent northerners called for decisive action to save the region.
Atiku Abubakar said the North cannot afford to be complacent at a time when insecurity, poverty and educational decline continue to weaken communities across the region. He warned that the North risks “stagnation” and a slide into deeper insecurity unless leaders unite behind a clear plan for development.
The former Vice President praised the ACF for surviving “through thick and thin” since it was restructured in 1999, shortly after the return of democratic rule. He explained that when he assumed office as Vice President, one of his first actions was to initiate a reconciliation process to heal political divisions among northern leaders. This led to the formation of a committee chaired by the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, which eventually produced the modern ACF.
Atiku said the founding vision of the ACF was not only to create political harmony but also to drive development in the spirit of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto. He reminded the audience that the Sardauna’s priorities in 1961 — education, agriculture and industrial growth — remain the areas where the North is still struggling today.
According to him, the northern region has made attempts in the past to address its problems. He cited the Northern Education Project, which exposed the state of collapsing schools and helped push for reforms that increased school enrolment and transition rates. He also mentioned the Northern Development Project (NDP), which was created to rebuild agricultural value chains and confront climate-related challenges affecting farm output.
However, he said the gains from those efforts have not been enough. Many of the obstacles that limited progress 20 years ago — including poor electricity supply, multiple taxation, weak infrastructure and low industrial capacity — still remain.
Atiku observed that diversity, which could have been a strength, is now being used as a weapon by those who spread fear and disinformation. He encouraged northern leaders to learn from countries like India and China, where people of different religions, cultures and languages have managed to build strong economies without allowing diversity to become a source of division.
He noted that the North must confront important questions about population growth, food security, education, job creation and readiness for a global economy driven by technology and knowledge. With Nigeria’s population rising quickly and the North having one of the highest birth rates in Africa, Atiku said leaders must urgently plan for the future.
“If ever there was a moment for the North to come together, that time is now,” he said.
In his own remarks, industrialist Aliko Dangote focused on the economic challenges facing the region. He said many northern industries collapsed over the years because government policies “kept shifting the goalpost,” making it difficult for investors to survive.
Dangote said he once commissioned a study by Arthur Andersen, now part of KPMG, to understand why northern textile factories, which used to employ thousands of workers, failed despite strong beginnings. The research found that unpredictable government policies and chronic electricity shortages were the main causes of the collapse.
He noted that electricity supply remains one of the biggest obstacles to industrial growth in northern Nigeria. “Without electricity, you cannot have growth, no matter how hard you try,” he said.
Dangote revealed that his companies only rely on public electricity in South Africa and Ethiopia because Nigeria’s power grid is too unreliable for industrial operations. The lack of stable electricity, he said, has forced many factories across the North to shut down, leaving thousands unemployed and weakening the region’s economy.
Dangote drew a direct connection between the region’s economic decline and its growing security challenges. He said banditry, youth unemployment and widespread economic frustration are the results of years of neglect and inconsistent planning.
According to him, the North has enough land, population and resources to become the food hub of West Africa. However, without a long-term economic roadmap focused on agriculture, education and industrialisation, the region will continue to struggle.
He warned that the problems currently facing the North “will consume everyone, whether guilty or not,” if leaders fail to act quickly.
The ACF, founded originally in 2000 and rooted in earlier northern political associations, has long played a role in shaping public opinion and pushing for unity in the region. Its 25th anniversary celebration was expected to highlight its achievements and contributions over the years. But the speeches delivered by Atiku and Dangote made it clear that the anniversary should be less about celebration and more about reflection.
Both leaders agreed that the North stands at a defining moment. With rising insecurity, high poverty rates, low educational outcomes and struggling industries, they said the region must rethink its priorities and rebuild a strong foundation for development.
Their message was simple: the North has the potential to lead Nigeria’s economic and social transformation, but only if it embraces unity, consistency and long-term planning. Without these, the region could face even more difficult years ahead.
As the event ended, it was clear that the two foremost northern leaders were calling for a new development agenda one that focuses on human capital, economic opportunity and regional cooperation.
For many in attendance, the speeches served as a wake-up call. Despite the celebrations marking the ACF’s silver jubilee, the tone of the evening suggested that the time for nostalgia is over. What the North needs now, according to Atiku and Dangote, is action, vision and the courage to confront its challenges head-on.
