Northern youth coalition hails Tinubu’s emergency declaration on insecurity, poverty
A coalition of northern youth groups under the aegis of the Northern Youth Frontiers (NYF), on Monday, commended President Bola Tinubu for declaring insecurity and poverty as national emergencies. Tinubu
A coalition of northern youth groups under the aegis of the Northern Youth Frontiers (NYF), on Monday, commended President Bola Tinubu for declaring insecurity and poverty as national emergencies.
Tinubu on Friday, May 1, declared insecurity and poverty as national emergencies, warning that both crises now pose a grave threat to jobs, productivity and Nigeria’s overall stability.
The group said the declaration marks a critical step toward addressing the region’s longstanding challenges, noting that insecurity and poverty have remained major obstacles to peace, productivity, and development.
In a statement issued by its Chairman, Sama Musa, the group described the President’s Workers’ Day address as bold, timely, and reflective of the realities faced by Nigerians, particularly in the North.
Musa said, “The Northern Youth Frontiers (NYF) officially welcomes and commends the courageous and visionary Workers’ Day address delivered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“In a move that reflects the true yearnings of the grassroots, the President’s declaration of Insecurity and Poverty as National Emergencies marks a significant turning point in the 'Renewed Hope' agenda.
“As an organisation representing the interests of the youth across the North, a region disproportionately affected by these dual scourges, the NYF views this declaration as a long-awaited recognition of the fundamental barriers to national productivity and peace".
Musa said the group was particularly encouraged by the administration’s approach to community safety.
He added, “We celebrate the recruitment of 45,000 young Nigerians into this initiative. This not only bolsters local security but also provides meaningful employment for our youth.
“Agro-Rangers: The deployment of 10,000 NSCDC Agro-Rangers to 19 states is a masterstroke. For our brothers and sisters in the North, the ability to return to the farms without the fear of banditry is the only true way to ensure food security and economic stability.
“The President’s acknowledgement that decent work cannot exist where wages are insufficient to feed a family" resonates deeply with our members. We commend: Social Safety Nets: The expansion of cash transfers to 15 million households and the lifting of 7.5 million Nigerians out of poverty.
“Economic Buffers: The reintroduction of gratuity payments (effective January 2026) and the clearance of pension arrears, which provide much-needed dignity to our elders and future security for the youth.
“Infrastructure as an Engine: The creation of 600,000 jobs through landmark projects like the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline—a project of immense strategic importance to the industrialisation of Northern Nigeria.
“Statement from the Northern Youth Frontiers: By declaring insecurity and poverty as national emergencies, President Tinubu has moved beyond mere rhetoric. He has identified the 'twin demons' that have held the North back for decades.
“We are particularly impressed by the multi-dimensional approach, linking security directly to agriculture and infrastructure. When the farmer is safe, the nation is fed; when the youth are employed, the recruiters of insurgency find no candidates".
The group, however, urged the Federal Government to sustain the momentum by ensuring that initiatives such as the N200 billion MSME support fund and the National Agricultural Growth Scheme (NAGS-AP) are accessible to genuine small-scale entrepreneurs and farmers in remote communities.
“The NYF remains committed to supporting this administration in its quest to ensure that "decent work" becomes a right for every Nigerian, rather than a privilege for a few. We call on all labor unions and stakeholders to heed the President's call for dialogue, ensuring that our national journey toward recovery is not disrupted. Nigeria is on the path to healing, and the Northern Youth stand ready to play their part,” he added.
