A coalition of youth groups from the seven states of the North-west under the aegis of North West Youth Unity Forum (NWUF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take drastic steps towards addressing the issues of insecurity and hardship in the country, warning that the region would not offer “blank check support” for his 2027 re-election bid if these challenges were not dealt with.

In a statement on Friday by the chairman and convener of the group, Hon. Murtala Ishaka Jangebe, the group lamented that Northern Nigerians were facing severe economic difficulty and would only vote for candidates that showed genuine interest in addressing their needs.

The Forum listed the removal of fuel subsidy as a factor that triggered a chain reaction of high costs, calling for necessary interventions to reduce costs of living in the region.  

The Forum urged the Tinubu’s administration to take “immediate, serious, and decisive” action towards ending the persistent killings, banditry, kidnappings, and general insecurity affecting Northern Nigeria.

“The lives and security of Nigerian citizens must remain a top priority,” the group said, adding that the ceremonial political visits to the North during campaigns without concrete impact of governance would no longer be acceptable.

“Before asking Northerners to support President Tinubu again in 2027, address the hunger, address the hardship, address the insecurity, and protect the lives of the people.”