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By: Abdullahi Inuwa
A passionate call for transformation and productivity, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Mai Mala Buni on Security Matters, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd), has urged young people across Yobe State to take ownership of their future by embracing agriculture and business ventures as sustainable alternatives to restiveness and social vices.
Speaking at a community engagement forum held in Damaturu on Thursday, the retired military officer stressed the urgent need for Yobe’s teeming youth population to move away from dependence on government and idle expectations, and instead channel their energy into farming and entrepreneurship.
According to Brigadier General Abdulsalam, youth restiveness has, in recent times, become a worrisome security concern, particularly in the post-insurgency era, where vulnerable young people are easily recruited into criminal gangs, drugs, and other unproductive activities.
“The era of sitting idle and waiting for white-collar jobs must end. The youths must now rise and take advantage of the various opportunities that abound in agriculture, animal husbandry, fish farming, and small-scale businesses. These are productive ventures that can create wealth and drive Yobe’s economy,” he emphasized.
He noted that with the vast arable land and supportive climate, Yobe State remains a fertile ground for agribusiness and food production, calling it the state’s “green gold.” He said Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration has consistently promoted youth engagement in agriculture through initiatives such as the resettlement of returning IDPs with agricultural starter packs, support for irrigation farming, and empowerment of cooperative societies.
Having spent decades in military service and now leading security coordination at the grassroots level, Brigadier General Abdulsalam understands firsthand the link between unemployment, frustration, and insecurity. He warned that the lack of meaningful engagement often breeds radicalism and crime, particularly among youth who feel marginalized or abandoned.
“As someone who has served in counter-insurgency operations, I can tell you categorically that the solution to insecurity is not only military. It is economic. A youth with a hoe in his hand is less likely to pick up a weapon. A girl selling produce in the market has no interest in sabotage. Engagement reduces tension. Empowerment weakens crime,” he explained.
He commended various security outfits in Yobe for gradually stabilizing the state and creating the safe environment necessary for farming and business to thrive again. He particularly praised the resilience of local communities, farmers, vigilante groups, and traditional institutions who have stood firm in restoring normalcy.
Brigadier General Abdulsalam called on young men and women to tap into existing support systems provided by the Yobe State Government, such as the Youth Empowerment Initiative, the Agricultural Mechanization Scheme, and the partnership with CBN under the Anchor Borrowers Programme. He also highlighted the importance of forming cooperative societies to benefit from loans, grants, and training.
“We cannot allow the efforts of the government to go to waste. These programmes are designed to lift our people out of poverty. Our youths must show seriousness, register their ventures, and come forward to be part of the transformation agenda,” he said.
He added that the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, and various NGOs to sensitize communities on the benefits of self-reliance and agribusiness.
While acknowledging the devastating impact of insurgency on livelihoods in Yobe, General Abdulsalam stressed that changing the mindset of young people is critical to rebuilding the state. He challenged youth leaders, religious groups, and community elders to help instill values of hard work, patience, and productivity.
“Our youths must be made to understand that success doesn’t come overnight. The culture of quick money through drugs, thuggery, and online scams is destroying our society. True wealth comes from effort, from tilling the soil, from building something that lasts,” he urged.
He further called on the media and civil society organizations to support the advocacy campaign for youth engagement in agriculture, noting that public enlightenment plays a key role in shaping aspirations.
Many attendees at the forum lauded Brigadier General Abdulsalam’s message, describing it as timely and necessary. Ibrahim Lawan, a youth leader from Gujba, said:
“The General spoke our minds. We need to stop waiting for the government and start farming. Even if we start small, the future will be brighter.”
Fatima Garba, a young entrepreneur from Potiskum, added:
“With the peace returning to our communities, we now have the chance to build. Farming is not for old people only. It is for all of us, especially women.”
Conclusion
As the dry season farming approaches and new government empowerment cycles begin, the message from Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam is clear: Yobe’s youth must rise to the challenge of nation-building through enterprise, agriculture, and resilience.
His passionate call is not only a security strategy but a blueprint for economic revival and social stability in Yobe State. With coordinated efforts, investment in people, and a reorientation of values, the path to peace and prosperity lies in the hands of the youth. The seeds of that future, as the retired General noted, must be planted now—one farm, one business, one life at a time.
Abdullahi Inuwa Social Commentator ainuwa303@gmail.com
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