Insecurity: It’ll Take 20 Years To Fix The North - Gen Abdulsalami

The northern region has been damaged so much that it would take about 20 years to rehabilitate it, former military head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, said yesterday.
This is coming on the heels of statements by governors of north-east states and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) that the federal government is not doing enough to address the region’s insecurity and underdevelopment.

General Abubakar made this comment yesterday at the ‘Conference on the North and Strategies for Sustainable Development’ organised by the Arewa House, Centre for Historical Documentation and Research, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in Kaduna.
“It will take 20 years to revive the north. A lot of damage has been done. It is when you go round that you will appreciate the extent of damage done to the region. We have to work together to build it,” he said.
According to him, the north is also suffering from a lack of unity which it was known for.
“Certainly, if there is unity, we will not be here; because there is no unity, that is why we are in Arewa House trying to address the issue,” he said.
Speaking on national security, the former head of state said that “every Nigerian is a security officer’ and that everyone should contribute to containment efforts by providing useful information for government to work with in curbing the menace.
“Be the government watchdog and also watch your communities,” he advised Nigerians.
Source: Leadership