by Nigerian News24 Correspondents
The Northern Ethnic National Forum (NENF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on security and immediately dismiss the nation’s service chiefs, accusing them of failing to contain rising violence across the North.
In a statement on Sunday, NENF Convener, Dominic Alancha, said the administration’s economic reforms had been bold, but worsening insecurity and weak leadership in the security sector demanded urgent corrective measures.
“The security situation in northern Nigeria has degenerated into a full-blown catastrophe. Every day, communities are ravaged by bandits, terrorists, and other criminal elements operating with impunity. This is unacceptable,” the forum declared.
The group alleged that despite heavy funding, the service chiefs had failed to deliver, stressing that Nigeria’s security architecture required a “fundamental overhaul.”
“We angrily and unequivocally demand the immediate dismissal and replacement of all service chiefs. The President must appoint fresh, innovative military leaders with a clear mandate and timeline for results,” NENF stated.
The forum further urged President Tinubu to reshuffle his cabinet, accusing several ministers of underperformance and failure to translate the “Renewed Hope” agenda into concrete results. It recommended bringing in “doers, thinkers, and strategists” capable of driving national development and boosting political goodwill ahead of 2027.
On the economy, NENF applauded Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy and forex reforms but warned that poor implementation had deepened hardship. It called for quicker palliatives, major investments in agriculture and manufacturing, and urgent improvements in power, transport, and infrastructure.
The call echoes a recent demand by the Northern Elders Forum for a state of emergency on security, warning of looming anarchy if urgent action is not taken.
Meanwhile, northern youth leaders under the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), North-West Zone, expressed support for a combined military and dialogue approach in tackling insecurity.
At a meeting in Kaduna, convener Saleh Kuba praised National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for adopting both “kinetic and non-kinetic” strategies, saying this aligns with global best practices.
“You cannot rely on force alone. Lasting peace requires dialogue to address the root causes of insecurity. We are in full support of sustained, honest engagement across the regions,” Kuba said.
The youth leaders also called for stronger collaboration between federal and state governments, emphasising the need to recognise governors as chief security officers in their states.
During the meeting, they unanimously adopted Ahmad Rufai Khalifa, grandson of Nigeria’s late Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, as their consensus candidate for the NYCN presidency ahead of the council’s October elections.