Amid the growing socio-economic crises in Nigeria, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), has called for a renewed focus on community engagement to address the nation’s challenges.
Speaking at a one-day community engagement meeting, the national coordinator of CNG, Jamilu Charanchi, highlighted the urgent need for grassroots-driven solutions to tackle issues such as insecurity and economic hardship, among others.
He laid bare the reality of Nigeria’s current state, pointing to economic struggles and insecurity as major crises affecting the nation’s well-being, especially in the northern regions.
He criticised the country’s leaders for being primarily focused on securing political victories rather than addressing the dire needs of the people.
“The time for lamentation is over. We can no longer sit back and wait for the government to solve our problems. The responsibility now lies with us, the communities, the grassroots, to take charge of our future and demand accountability from our leaders,” he said.
The coordinator emphasized that engaging community members is critical to overcoming Nigeria’s socio-economic problems.
He explained that CNG aims to empower local communities to become more actively involved in finding solutions to issues such as poverty, poor infrastructure and rampant insecurity.
“The real power lies within the people. It is time we recognize that we are the government, not just the politicians,” he said. “If we can come together as communities and work towards common goals, we can bring about real change from the grassroots level.”
During the discussion, the issue of corruption was highlighted as a significant barrier to progress.
Charanchi specifically pointed to corruption within sectors like the oil industry, education and healthcare as areas that urgently require reform, stressing that poor leadership and lack of integrity among political figures are the primary reasons for these systemic failures.
“Our leaders have failed us because they are more concerned about securing their positions in the next election than addressing the plight of the common man.
“The crises we face today – whether insecurity, education, or healthcare issues stem from this lack of commitment to public service.”
He called for leaders who genuinely care about the future of Nigeria and its next generation, emphasizing that only through integrity and dedication to public service can the nation overcome its challenges.
The CNG advocated mobilising community leaders from various sectors, including civil society organisations, student groups and journalists to play a significant role in addressing the nation’s crises.
The coordinator announced that these leaders have a mandate to return to their communities, disseminate the information discussed at the meeting, and encourage collective efforts toward finding solutions.
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