WAR ON WANT: Tukur Buratai Urges Federal Government to Declare State of Emergency on Poverty in Northern Nigeria!

Abdulhameed Sherif · Nigeria · Nov 6, 2026

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has stirred up a major national debate by calling on the Federal Government to declare an immediate state of emergency on poverty in Northern Nigeria.

The ongoing battle against banditry, kidnapping, and Boko Haram insurgency across the northern region has long prompted intense security evaluations from military veterans and policy experts.

Weighing in on the multi-layered crisis, Buratai emphasized that economic survival remains the most potent weapon in the fight against violent extremism:

The Root Cause of Insecurity: According to the former army chief, years of systemic neglect, extreme poverty, and joblessness have created a fertile recruitment pool for terrorist networks and criminal syndicates preying on vulnerable youth.

Beyond Military Operations: While acknowledging the sacrifices and gains made by security forces on the battlefield, Buratai insisted that kinetic strategies must be backed by aggressive socio-economic interventions to achieve lasting peace.

The Call for Urgent Federal Action: The explosive recommendation has drawn widespread reactions across political and social circles, reigniting discussions on whether targeted economic palliatives and infrastructural revamps can finally break the cycle of northern insecurity.

Whether viewed as a blunt reality check for federal policymakers or a vital strategy shift in the nation's counter-terrorism playbook, Buratai's declaration puts economic survival right at the center of Nigeria's security discourse!