Poverty Root Cause of Insecurity in Northern Nigeria – Gov Uba Sani

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has identified poverty and economic exclusion as the root causes of escalating insecurity in northern Nigeria. Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Sani stressed that sustainable peace would remain elusive unless these issues are tackled holistically.

Drawing on his background as a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Sani highlighted alarming data from the Central Bank and SDGs showing that 60–65% of people in the North, particularly the North-West, were financially excluded in 2023. He noted that economic vulnerability made young people susceptible to recruitment by armed groups.

He revealed that over 350,000 children were out of school when he assumed office, linking insecurity to unemployment and educational neglect. Sani cited UNICEF statistics showing the North accounts for about 70% of Nigeria’s 18.2 million out-of-school children.

The governor called for collective efforts among northern leaders and emphasized the need to address infrastructure, education, and healthcare to combat poverty and restore stability.