Dutse, June 15, 2026 – Governor Umar Namadi has called on traditional rulers across Northern Nigeria to strengthen their engagement in addressing insecurity and broader social challenges threatening the region’s peace, unity and development.
The governor made the call on Monday while delivering his address at the 8th Executive Committee Meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council (NTRC) held at the Government House Banquet Hall in Dutse, Jigawa State.
Speaking before a gathering of traditional rulers from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Namadi said the region continues to grapple with insecurity, poverty, youth unemployment, climate-related pressures, farmer-herder conflicts, drug abuse, out-of-school children and the erosion of community values.
According to him, overcoming these challenges requires sustained collaboration among governments, traditional institutions, religious leaders, security agencies, civil society organisations and citizens.
The governor described traditional rulers as critical partners in governance, noting that they remain custodians of culture, promoters of peace and trusted links between government and the people.
He commended the efforts of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, chaired by Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, for fostering regional cooperation and strengthening partnerships with traditional institutions in the pursuit of peace, security and development.
Namadi also acknowledged ongoing efforts by the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address insecurity across the country through intensified military operations, improved intelligence gathering and enhanced coordination among security agencies and state governments.
He cited the Northwest Peace and Security Summit held in Katsina as an example of growing collaboration among federal and state actors, traditional institutions and development partners in confronting security challenges.
The governor noted that the theme of the meeting, “Peace, Unity and Development of the North,” was timely, given the persistent security concerns facing the region and their impact on economic growth and social stability.
He urged the traditional rulers to broaden their focus beyond insecurity and address underlying social problems that often fuel conflicts, including drug abuse, family disintegration, poor educational outcomes and declining moral values.
“The consequences of these challenges are far-reaching, particularly for women and children, who often bear the brunt through displacement, loss of livelihoods, limited access to education and increased vulnerability,” he said.
Namadi revealed that the Jigawa State Government had established community-based peace and security committees to strengthen dialogue, conflict resolution, early warning systems and cooperation between communities and security agencies.
He added that the state would soon introduce executive orders aimed at promoting mass mobilisation and societal reorientation on peacebuilding, civic responsibility, social cohesion and the fight against drug and substance abuse.
The governor stressed the need for parents, community leaders and institutions to play active roles in nurturing responsible and productive youths, saying strong family values remain essential to building peaceful and resilient communities.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working closely with traditional and religious institutions, which he described as indispensable partners in promoting unity, security and sustainable development.
Namadi further observed that discussions at previous meetings of the council had consistently emphasised the link between security, peace and development.
According to him, security provides the foundation for peace, peace creates the conditions for unity, while unity serves as the pathway to sustainable development and prosperity.
He expressed appreciation to the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, Muhammad Sa’adu Abubakar, the Emir of Hadejia, Adamu Abubakar Maje, and other traditional rulers for choosing Jigawa State to host the meeting.
The governor expressed optimism that deliberations at the gathering would produce practical recommendations capable of advancing peacebuilding, conflict prevention, youth development, education and community participation across Northern Nigeria.
