ADC Gov Candidates To Deploy Drones, Set Up Regional Security Centre To End Banditry In Northwest

The governorship candidates of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the seven Northwest states have vowed to deploy drones and technology-driven surveillance and establish a Northwest Regional Security Coordination Centre to end banditry and kidnapping in the region if elected in 2027.

The candidates made the pledge on Wednesday while signing the Northwest ADC Governorship Candidates’ Compact 2027-2031 at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

The compact, which outlines a joint regional agenda on security, development and shared prosperity, also contains promises to pay N110,000 minimum wage and establish 21 specialist hospitals – one in each senatorial district.

Reading the communique after the signing, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Kebbi State ADC governorship candidate, Abubakar Malami, SAN, described the Northwest as crisis-ridden.

He said over 16,000 lives have been lost to insecurity between June 2023 and August 2026, with more than 1,583 kidnapping incidents since January 2023, over 10,000 persons abducted, tens of thousands displaced, and over 533,000 hectares of farmland in Zamfara and Katsina abandoned.

Malami said the candidates will declare emergencies on insecurity and education, and establish rapid-response networks across the 21 senatorial districts to strengthen early warning and response to security threats.

“We will ensure more land is safely farmed, and our food security is strengthened through protected agricultural corridors, formalised livestock production, agro-processing, a regional grain reserve and irrigation rehabilitation,” he said.

He lamented that despite receiving over N8.33 trillion in federal allocations between June 2023 and August 2026, the APC-led administrations in the Northwest have little to show, accusing them of massive looting while governors live in luxury with extravagant government houses, exotic cars and private jet travels.

The candidates also declared support for ADC presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to restore fuel subsidy, saying its removal has pushed households into abject penury.

“We commit that we will implement a minimum wage of N110,000 for workers across all seven states of the Northwest when elected,” the compact stated.

On education, they promised to secure full UBEC access, integrate Almajiri and Tsangaya children into formal schools, support girls’ education and mop up out-of-school children, noting that the region accounts for 45 percent of Nigeria’s out-of-school children.

For health, they pledged full access to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, revitalization of Primary Health Care Centres, expansion of midwives and telemedicine, and establishment of one specialist hospital in each senatorial district.

They also promised regional infrastructure including roads, rail, independent and solar power for public facilities, water systems and digital backbone.

Aside from Malami, other candidates present were Manir Mohammad Dan’iya of Sokoto, Sabo Mohammed Nakudu of Jigawa, and Bilyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi of Zamfara.

Katsina candidate, Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita, was represented by his deputy Aminu Yar’Adua Ahmed, Kaduna’s Isa Mohammed Ashiru by his deputy Kantiok Irmiya Ishaku, and Kano’s Ibrahim Ali Amin by his deputy Sabo Mohammed Nakudu.