The seven governors of Nigeria’s northwest geopolitical zone have committed to a shared regional agenda. The agenda covers peace, resilience and economic opportunity. They met on the margins of the 81st UN General Assembly session. The Northwest Governors’ Forum (NWGF) convened the event with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The governors called for stronger international partnerships and development finance. They want responsible investment to translate the Northwest Peace, Security and Development Framework (2026-2030) into action.
The northwest has been the epicentre of Nigeria’s banditry crisis. Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna have recorded thousands of abductions. SBM Intelligence recorded 7,334 abductions in the three northern zones between July 2025 and June 2026. Security operations have increased. They have not restored peace. The framework shifts focus to development. The logic is that security alone cannot fix the region.
The event brought together governors, UN officials, development partners, financial institutions and private-sector leaders. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed attended. The governors agreed that lasting peace requires investment in conditions that allow communities to thrive. The framework was adopted in March 2026. UNDP Nigeria provided technical support. The German Government funded it through the Northwest Prevention Facility Project.
The seven states are Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara. The region has over 60 million people. It is central to Nigeria’s food systems and regional trade. It also faces insecurity, climate shocks, poverty and displacement. The governors are positioning regional cooperation over isolated state interventions.
Priority areas include climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, trade infrastructure, digital innovation and local enterprise development. The goal is to build investment-ready portfolios.
Dauda Lawal, Governor of Zamfara, said: “You cannot secure a region into prosperity. You have to invest in it.” Amina Mohammed commended the governors for speaking in one voice.
Winners: The governors, who gain international platforms. UNDP, which demonstrates coordination. Germany, which gains visibility. The region, if investment follows. Losers: States that act alone. Security agencies, whose role is reframed. Critics who see the framework as talk. The region, if financing does not materialise.
Bottom Line: Seven governors, one framework, one UNGA event. The northwest needs investment, not just troops. The framework is a plan. Financing is the test. Without capital, it joins the list of abandoned strategies.