Abbas seeks coordinated action to address North-west insecurity, poverty

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for urgent and coordinated action to address the challenges of insecurity, poverty, and infrastructural decay ravaging the North-West region of the country.

The Speaker said this at the inauguration of the House Committee on the North-West Development Commission (NWDC) at the National Assembly.

“For too long, the North-West has faced systemic neglect, worsening insecurity, and economic decline. The time for half-measures is over. This Commission must be the catalyst for real, measurable change,” Abbas said.

The Speaker urged the NWDC to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment across the zone and develop a 10-year strategic plan to guide its interventions, adding that the plan must be backed by innovative financing mechanisms, including public-private partnerships and development bonds, to ensure sustainability.

“Banditry and rural violence have crippled agricultural production, driven thousands from their homes, and forced children out of school. These are not abstract problems—they are existential threats to the region’s survival,” he said.

Chairman of the House Committee on the North-West Development Commission (NWDC), Hon Gumi, pledged to lead a transparent and results-driven approach to addressing the socio-economic and security challenges in the region, saying “This is not just the inauguration of a committee; it is a day filled with hope and renewed determination”.