₦airaland Forum

An elder statesman, Usman Bugaje, has opined that the deteriorating condition of Northern Nigeria is facing serious challenges that require collective efforts to prevent total collapse.

He observed that the region is plagued by poverty, insecurity, and corruption, saying that nearly 60 per cent of students in tertiary institutions cannot return to school because their parents cannot afford tuition or transportation fees.

According to Bugaje, “For over 25 years of Nigeria’s democracy, poverty has more than doubled in the region, with over 33 million Nigerians facing starvation.”

The elder statesman explained that the country’s currency has lost significant value, as the minimum wage is no longer sufficient to purchase a bag of rice, highlighting the collapsing economy.

Speaking as the convener of the Arewa Movement for Good Governance Conference, themed, “The North and the Dangers Looming on the Horizon: The Need for a New Conversation and a New Narrative,” held on Saturday in Kaduna, Bugaje lamented that the North is facing serious challenges that are not being addressed.

He lamented, “It’s worrying and disturbing. We need to sit down and address these issues.”

He also lamented that insecurity has spread and escalated to previously inconceivable levels, frustrating trade, commerce, and agriculture—the mainstay of the region’s economy—adding that public institutions are decaying and failing in service delivery.

According to Bugaje, the state of infrastructure, particularly electricity, is epileptic, with neighboring Niger Republic appearing to be doing better.

He believed, “The social sector is the worst hit, as human capital is dwindling, and there are no jobs for the largely unemployable youth. In short, Nigeria is simply not working.”

Bugaje opined that the shameless politicians bask in false glory, reading empty speeches, embellished by a growing industry of praise singers, hangers-on, and an army of thugs, many of whom are drug users.

He noted that Nigerians are on a dangerous trajectory with no future to look forward to, with 20 million out-of-school children, most of whom are in the North, adding that Nigerians are sitting on a time bomb as nearly 60% of students in tertiary institutions in the North cannot return to school.

Bugaje also criticized the weakening of traditional institutions by political office holders, whom he described as epitomes of decadence, saying that many religious leaders have been enticed with money and drawn into a political culture dominated by violence, money politics, and the inordinate ambitions of people determined to rule by any means possible.

He emphasized that the primary problem of Nigeria is leadership and called for a consensus among northern elites to tackle the region’s challenges, saying that history will not forgive Nigerian elites for their failure to address the problems facing the entire country.

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee and former Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Tom Maiyashi, in his remarks, observed that the North is on the verge of collapse.

He urged northerners to come together and save the region for the sake of future generations, saying, “Northern elites must come back to their senses and address the challenges of the region.”

Source: https://dailypost.ng/2025/02/02/northern-nigeria-facing-serious-challenges-heading-for-total-collapse-bugaje/

not true, just pure deceit

Instead of the northern sultan to bother about this issue, it's sharia in the south that is his problem

Ask kano governor how many billions is in his 2025 budget for mass marriage. Them compare it to how much in healthcare and education. Also investigate 10years past budget of every northern state. Also check the projects done by senators representing different zones in the north. Then you will see a region with leader built against its progress

If not owambe people, wetin concern is in this marriage

North won’t collapse, we will stand strong and teach south a big lesson 2027

I want to see the like of Helinues 😭 like a baby

U guys said APC is the Saviour...continue.

Muslim Muslim ticket with a poison pill.

Who else to blame than u wicked northern leaders who have vehemently refused to allow the south and northern minorities have more political freedom? Once there's no political stability in a country it will definitely also affect every other area of the country.

And who should be held responsible for that? Same Northerners

then it means Tinubu is doing something right in a negative way.the north thinks they are the only side with backward leader like buhari until the west smuggled in Tinubu. Tinubu should fire them more

The present crop of Northern leaders are not just it.. go to so called sharia States and see the nonsense happening, kids including toddlers that should be under their parents care will be begging all over the place in name of almajiri, islamic knowledge seeking or whatever they tag it.. including little girls that will be at the mercy of perverts and paedophiles.
They will be wearing starched babariga around in Abuja, living as if no they are something when infact they are nothing.. if not for treachery in South, Northerners shouldn't even go near power talk more of saying they want Presidency.

The homeless, poor and almajiri beggars are potential recruits for terrorists which will in turn lead to destabilization of their region through terrorism and insurgency. I've never seen a people so comfortable in their archaic, backward way of life as North.

I thought Sharia would have solved their problems ever since.

igatit:
I thought Sharia would have solved their problems ever since.

Their sharia laws apply only to the poor masses in the society.. their big men can collect bribes, embezzle public funds, stash dollars inside pocket etc. but sharia won't see them.
It's the ones stealing food or petty things the sharia will see and amputate their hands and legs.

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8-32

Buhari ruled from 2015 to 2023 but couldn’t fix the north?

Too bad.

What is killing you and your north is islam.

A Christian president (GEJ) came and was making life easy for you and your almajiri children. From no where buhari came with the toga of religion. Suddenly, the Muslims threw Jonathan away and started calling him infidel.

The north bred so much children due to Islam. The religion of prophet Muhammed permit Muslims to breed children like rabbits because the false prophets wanted to dominate the whole world via births. Now we have millions of their children roaming the streets with no education or survival skills. Many among these children are collected by Belllo Turji and Abubakar shekau for onward recruitment into Boko Haram.

Now, their sultan have started shouting Sharia up and down neglecting the real time bomb facing his region. They continue to feed their dumb followers with the toxic water of Islam only to be dump later on to doom.

The problem of northern Nigeria especially Muslims is not entirely from bad leadership. The problem is = I. S. L. A. M

After going through hell fire in the hands of buhari, I thought they must have learnt, but no they did not. Their leaders came again with Muslim Muslim Tickets. They all rushed and que behind the tickets. Today they have started crying. In fact, their condition is even worst courtesy: Muslim Muslim ticket. This is what religion can cause.

The day these fools realises that their major set backs is Islam, from that day their redemption and freedom has come.

Like I said, the problem is I. S. L. A. M

...

Eyah. But they keep spending money to build or renovate mosques. Sponsored mass weddings for poverty stricken people to produce more almajiris

So with all this epistol now what do u want Tilumbu to do for your region 😂😆

Just dey play

Don't worry yourself sir, very soon Sharia law will save northern Nigeria from collapse.

Sharia law will surely save the north and soon South west.

This Northern people should just for once tell themselves the truth at least for once.

What are their leaders doing with billions of naira at their disposal.

Allocation nko? Where is it going?

This man should just face their so called leaders and call them out.

Nigga shut up!

AmazingGenius:
Source: https://dailypost.ng/2025/02/02/northern-nigeria-facing-serious-challenges-heading-for-total-collapse-bugaje/

Northern this northern that na only northern dey Nigeria..

When lack of education n religion insanity is eating ur region up.so other region no get iṣsue

But North generates more VAT than southeast according to Reno Omonkey and his babablus vultures.

So why should poverty double in the northern region, with over 33 million Northern Nigerians facing starvation?

But Buhari just finished 8years in government, is that fast you miss power.

Let it deteriorate till after 8years, if other regions can wait for north to finish its 2terms, Northern also need to percify for another 8years

We warned, but we held unto useless power.

OneCandleAway:
Instead of the northern sultan to bother about this issue, it's sharia in the south that is his problem

the sharia that turn the North to poverty capital of Nigeria

AmazingGenius:
Source: https://dailypost.ng/2025/02/02/northern-nigeria-facing-serious-challenges-heading-for-total-collapse-bugaje/

Dem get where dem dey HEAD TO before? but now they destination POINT, after year as HEAD of STATES dem no HEAD toward DEVELOPMENT

If the collapse would bring healing or the much needed division to this country,then let it collapse.