Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has warned that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity is fast crippling the nation’s economy and threatening food security, calling for an urgent redirection of government spending toward ending the crisis.
In a communiqué issued after its 38th Board of Trustees meeting in Abuja, presided over by its Chairman, Bashir M. Dalhatu, the forum said continued violence across the country is destroying livelihoods and weakening key sectors of the economy.
The ACF noted that agricultural activities in many parts of northern Nigeria have been severely disrupted as farmers are unable to access their farmlands due to persistent attacks by bandits and other armed groups.
It added that the situation is worsening food shortages, driving up inflation and deepening hardship among citizens.
According to the forum, rural economies are collapsing under the weight of insecurity, while supply chains have been significantly disrupted, making it increasingly difficult to sustain economic stability.
The communiqué stressed that addressing insecurity is no longer just a safety concern but an economic necessity, warning that the longer the crisis persists, the more difficult and costly it will be to rebuild affected communities.
The ACF therefore called on the Federal Government to adopt a more strategic approach by temporarily scaling down expenditure on non-essential projects and focusing resources on restoring peace and stability across the country.
It maintained that without security, meaningful economic growth and development would remain unattainable, urging authorities to act swiftly to prevent further deterioration.
The forum concluded that securing lives and property must take precedence, as the nation risks deeper economic and social crises if urgent measures are not taken.