Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has identified poverty and unemployment as major drivers of insecurity in Northern Nigeria, revealing that over 60 percent of youths in the region lack access to economic opportunities.

Speaking during an interview on Channels TV's Sunday Politics program, Governor Sani painted a grim picture of the economic reality facing young people in the region, particularly in the Northwest.

"When I became governor in 2023, I conducted a poverty and economic analysis of Kaduna and the North in general," he said. "It showed that over 60 to 65 percent of our people, especially in the Northwest, have no access to economic opportunities. That's why it is very easy to recruit these young people into banditry."

The governor emphasized that the security challenges plaguing the region cannot be addressed through military action alone, calling instead for a comprehensive approach that tackles the root causes of the problem.

"This insecurity we are facing is caused by economic hardship, poverty, and unemployment," Sani explained. "We cannot resolve this issue completely in 10 years because it has been growing for decades. We kept quiet, and we failed to take the necessary steps early enough."

Education Crisis Compounds Security Challenges

Governor Sani also highlighted the alarming education crisis in the region, noting that a significant number of children are not in school. According to him, over 350,000 children were roaming the streets in Kaduna State alone when he took office.

"In Nigeria, we have about 18.2 million out-of-school children, and over 70 percent of them are in Northern Nigeria," the governor stated, citing data from consultations with the World Bank and UNICEF.

This educational deficit, combined with the lack of economic opportunities, has created fertile ground for insecurity to thrive, according to the governor.

Governor Sani called for unity among northern leaders to collectively address these challenges, suggesting that a coordinated approach is necessary to tackle the region's security and development issues.

The governor's comments come amid ongoing security concerns in various parts of Northern Nigeria, where banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of violence have disrupted lives and livelihoods for many years.