Northern Consensus Movement Links Improved Security to Economic Growth, Backs Service Chiefs

Northern Consensus Movement Links Improved Security to Economic Growth, Backs Service Chiefs

The Nineteen Seventeen Northern Consensus Movement (NSNCM) says improved collaboration among Nigeria’s defence and security agencies under the current leadership has not only boosted national safety but is also opening doors for trade, agriculture, and community development across the country.

In a statement signed by its National President, Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu Sarkin Yakin Kanya Babba, the coalition of nearly 600 northern associations said the tenure of the current security heads – including Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Minister of State Bello Matawalle, National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and the service chiefs: General Christopher Musa, Lt General Olufemi Oluyede, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, and Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla – has created a more stable environment for farmers, traders, and transporters.

According to the group, new strategies by the military and paramilitary agencies have reduced piracy along Nigeria’s waterways, secured major highways for the movement of goods, and restored confidence in markets and farming communities previously disrupted by violence.

“When the roads are safe, farmers can move their produce, traders can reach markets, and investments can flow. The stability we are beginning to see is directly tied to the commitment of the present defence team,” the NSNCM noted.

The organisation commended the reactivation of strategic defence institutions such as the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), saying its work in producing arms and equipment locally also has a spillover effect on industrial growth, job creation, and technology transfer.

Beyond military achievements, NSNCM said the renewed civil-military relations – including intelligence sharing with communities and protection of whistleblowers – is building trust and encouraging grassroots participation in security.

It warned against attempts to derail these gains through politicisation of security leadership, stressing that stability is the foundation for economic progress.

“Security is not just about soldiers and guns; it is about protecting livelihoods, enabling commerce, and giving hope to our people. The current leadership has shown vision in this regard, and Nigerians must support rather than sabotage them,” the statement read.

Reaffirming its faith in Nigeria’s development path, the movement urged citizens to see national security as an enabler of growth and unity.