Northern Governors Have Enough Resources To Tackle Insecurity — Shehu Sani

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said northern governors now have sufficient financial resources to tackle insecurity in their respective states, following increased federal allocations under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Sani made the remarks during an appearance on TVC News “This Morning” programme on Wednesday August 12 while assessing Nigeria’s democracy, the economy and the political outlook ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said the removal of fuel subsidy and other economic reforms had significantly increased the resources available to state governments, arguing that governors should deploy the additional funds to address security, education, healthcare and infrastructure challenges.

“The governors are the beneficiaries of this economic reform or the states. This removal of subsidy and the huge resources that has accrued as a result is mostly going to the states.”

According to him, governors and other beneficiaries of the reforms should also do more to explain to Nigerians how increased revenues are being utilised.

Sani said northern governors, in particular, had a responsibility to use the additional resources at their disposal to strengthen security in their states.

“All the governors are receiving a huge sum of money enough for them to implement programmes, their projects and also support even the security of their state.”

He said the federal government’s increased revenue had already translated into infrastructure and other projects in parts of the country, but argued that more governors should publicly acknowledge the role of federal policies in making such projects possible.

Sani also identified insecurity as one of the biggest issues the Tinubu administration must address ahead of the 2027 elections.

He acknowledged that the government had recorded gains against terrorists and bandits, saying some areas previously affected by insecurity had been reopened for farming, education and other activities.

However, he maintained that more needed to be done.

“Bandits in the Northwest, terrorists in the Northeast are still unleashing mayhem.”

Sani said a substantial improvement in security before the 2027 elections could boost public confidence in the administration and strengthen the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s electoral prospects.

He also urged political actors benefiting from government policies to defend them openly, but without exaggerating achievements or resorting to propaganda.

“You don’t need to exaggerate. You don’t have to go into propaganda. You don’t have to tell lies. But there are verifiable achievements which every Nigerian can see.”

The former senator said governors should be at the forefront of communicating the impact of government policies to citizens, particularly at the grassroots.