The Growth and Development of Northern Nigeria (GDNN) implores wealthy Northern Nigerians to help find solution to the nagging issue of out of school children roaming the streets of the region, adding that GDNN is willing to partner and design a solution to the challenges societal failure imposed on these unlucky children.
The GDNN says it is clear that allowing foreign NGOs to be the only players on the issue is risky as they are only facilitating the deterioration of the unfortunate development.
The northern group commends the steps taken by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at addressing this subject holistically.
Briefing the media on the outcome of the 19th meeting of its steering committee, the GDNN urges the northern Governors – as stakeholders in the economic growth and development of the north – to syndicate a single loan facility and team up with the federal government in ensuring the completion of the A-K-K Gas Pipeline Project because of its potential towards facilitating rapid industrial development, jobs creation and revenue generation.
The organization says the key area of intervention by the G19 + 1 of the North, should be in the provision of 200% redundancy as back-up against maintenance, single pipeline failure, sabotage and service sustainability guarantees, as the risks associated with the current single pipeline supply artery are tremendously high if executed as it is.
Similarly, the Growth and Development of Northern Nigeria requested the Governors of 19 northern states and the FCT Minister to once again, explore syndicating a single facility aimed at developing the Regional Railway Network that connects the north-west and the north-east as well as carefully routed through the north-central states to Abuja in the long term; while in the immediate term rehabilitate and put back to use the existing rail system which runs on the existing rail tracks to drastically reduce the cost of haulage from the sea-port cities of Lagos and Port Harcourt to the north.
The GDNN advises President Bola Tinubu to immediately scrap the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), which the organization says is a drainpipe and conduit for corruption that has become a liability to the financial sector and the economy.
The GDNN says as statistical records reveal, AMCON is only escalating the cost of doing business in Nigeria through imposition of annual levies on banks and financial Institutions ranging from fifty to eighty billion Naira, which is used to support nothing but wasteful expenditures.
The northern group reminded the President that AMCON should have been wounded up a long time ago but for the inaction of various Assemblies leading to several extensions of the life of what it calls a “monster and liability to the financial industry.”
The GDNN also criticised the suspension of licensing of new Universities in the next 7 years, since it will not serve the purpose intended, rather deny serious people and organizations from investing in the sector.
The GDNN urges the federal government to rescind the decision to avoid making very good cases victims of the failure of others.
While deliberating on the progress of its three key projects under consideration at the 19th meeting, the GDNN steering committee commended Kaduna state Governor, Senator Uba Sani for his encouragement and support in making available 60-Hectres of land towards the realization the Queen Amina University project in Kaduna.
The other two projects are the Pyramid Commodity Exchange Limited, that is currently on a pilot test phase and the Participatory Bank Project, which is at the promotional phase.
The Growth and Development of Northern Nigeria (GDNN), with Head Office in Kaduna, is an entity Incorporated by Guarantee on the 7th of July 2022 with Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa (who died on 3rd of January 2022, may his soul rest in peace) as pioneer Chairman.
GDNN was inaugurated as an association of citizens of Northern Nigeria concerned about its development challenges in October 2017 in Kaduna.
The current caretaker Chairman is Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Halilu supported by a Steering Committee.
The objectives of Growth and Development of Northern Nigeria is to promote and facilitate investments towards the economic and social transformation of Northern Nigeria.
Through public policy advocacy the GDNN aims to promote the welfare and well-being of people of Northern Nigeria.
