Annual General Assembly of the Northern Traditional Rulers' Council

It is with profound humility and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today as your Special Guest of Honour at this critical gathering of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, for your gracious invitation and for your unwavering leadership in convening this vital assembly. I also thank His Highness, the Emir of Gumi, for your warm hospitality and for steering the Coordinating Committee with such wisdom and diligence.

To all the Royal Fathers, Coordinators, and Dignitaries who have journeyed here from across our vast and diverse region welcome. Your presence is a powerful testament to our shared commitment to the peace, unity, and development of Northern Nigeria.

This Annual General Assembly is not merely a ceremonial event; it is a strategic confluence of traditional authority, regional leadership, and collective willpower. The theme of this year’s meeting “Strengthening Community Collaboration for Lasting Peace and Security in Northern Nigeria” could not be more timely or more urgent.

We gather at a moment when our region faces complex, interwoven challenges including insecurity, economic hardship, social fragmentation, and the erosion of communal trust. Yet, we also gather with an unshakeable belief a belief that our greatest strength lies in our unity, our heritage, and our ability to collaborate across lines of state, ethnicity, and tradition.

As Governor of Katsina State, I have made community collaboration the cornerstone of my administration’s blueprint. We understand that peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, equity, and opportunity. It is built on the foundation of strong, resilient communities where every citizen young and old, man and woman has a stake in the future.

In Katsina, we are actively engaging our traditional institutions to:

• Restore security through community policing and intelligence sharing;
• Promote social cohesion by empowering youth and women through education and skills acquisition;
• Drive economic development by supporting agriculture, trade, and infrastructure projects that benefit local communities;
• Strengthen governance by ensuring transparency, accountability, and inclusive decision-making at the grassroots level.

But let me be clear, Katsina cannot do this alone. Just as no single traditional ruler can secure his domain without the support of his people, no single state can build lasting peace without the cooperation of its neighbours and the collective will of our traditional leaders.

The Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council stands as the moral compass and the institutional anchor for our region. You are the custodians of our culture, the mediators of our disputes, and the guardians of our collective conscience. Your influence extends beyond the palace walls into the villages, the markets, the schools, and the hearts of our people.

Therefore, I urge us all Royal Fathers, Coordinators, and State Governors to embrace a new era of strategic, results-oriented collaboration. Let us move beyond dialogue and deliberation to action and implementation. Here are three concrete steps we must take together:

• Establish a Regional Early Warning System: Leverage the unique access and influence of traditional rulers to create a real-time, community-based early warning system for security threats. This system must be integrated with state security agencies to ensure rapid response and prevent escalation.
• Launch a Joint Economic Empowerment Initiative: Pool resources and expertise to launch large-scale, cross-state initiatives in agriculture, vocational training, and micro-finance. Let us empower our youth not just with words, but with tools, capital, and opportunities.
• Formalize a Council of Elders for Conflict Resolution: Create a standing body of respected traditional leaders who can be deployed to mediate inter-communal conflicts before they escalate into violence. Their authority and legitimacy can often achieve what formal institutions cannot.

Your Excellences, the path to lasting peace and security in Northern Nigeria is not paved with grand pronouncements, but with consistent, collaborative action. It is built on mutual respect, shared sacrifice, and a common vision for a prosperous, peaceful, and united North.

Let us leave this assembly not only with resolutions, but with clear mandates, measurable targets, and a shared commitment to follow-through.

I reiterate Katsina State’s full commitment to working hand-in-hand with the NTRC and all our sister states to turn this vision into reality.

Thank you for the honour of being your Special Guest. May Allah continue to guide our steps and bless our efforts.