The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged President Bola Tinubu to reassess his economic reforms, emphasizing the need for greater sensitivity to the challenges facing Nigerians, particularly those in the northern region.
In a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, the ACF voiced dissatisfaction with the current administration’s economic policies, arguing that they have exacerbated the hardships of the average Nigerian.
Highlighting the northern region’s specific vulnerabilities, the Forum pointed to issues such as food insecurity, limited access to education and skills development, and heavy reliance on microeconomic activities for survival. While acknowledging the importance of economic reforms, the ACF cautioned that these measures should not aggravate poverty or hardship among the population they aim to support. The livelihoods of many in the region, it noted, are tied to small-scale economic activities.
“The region is grappling with acute and chronic food insecurity, and its youth face significant barriers to education and skills training. These challenges, though daunting, are reversible. Now is the time for bold thinking,” the communiqué stated.
It further criticized the federal government’s policies for worsening the dire economic conditions in the region, citing a lack of sensitivity to the precarious circumstances of the Arewa people. “Economic reforms, while necessary, must not impoverish the very people they are designed to benefit. If citizens cannot survive the hardship, they will not live to enjoy the anticipated benefits,” it added.
Additionally, the ACF has previously announced its support for a Northern candidate in the 2027 presidential election, according to DAILY POST.
