Just-in: Sultan Sa’ad Challenges Northern Leaders: “Go Beyond Summits

By Usman Ahmed Shehu

The ancient city of Bauchi became the nerve centre of Northern Nigeria’s development discourse when His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, delivered what many described as a “historic wake-up call” to the region’s political and economic elite.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Bauchi State Economic and Investment Summit with a theme “Building a Resilient Economy: Optimising Investment and Partnerships” the revered monarch urged Northern leaders to undertake an honest review of the numerous investment summits that had taken place across the region over the years, stressing that “the time has come to evaluate promises against performance.”

In his characteristic calm but firm tone, the Sultan departed from the ceremonial pleasantries often associated with such gatherings to deliver a rare challenge. “Over the past decade, we have convened countless investment summits in the North,” he said.

“We heard lofty speeches, signed MoUs, and made grand declarations. But where are the results? How many factories have been revived? How many youths have found jobs? How many investors who came to our summits actually stayed?”

The hall fell silent. Governors, traditional rulers, ministers, and top business figures listened intently as the Sultan continued, his voice echoing across the hallowed brand new Bauchi International Conference Centre commissioned today by former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR.

The Sultan proposed a comprehensive evaluation of past Northern investment summits, beginning with Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Gombe, and Borno, among others. He said such a review would expose systemic weaknesses — from poor follow-up mechanisms and weak monitoring frameworks to the lack of infrastructure, policy consistency, and security challenges that often scare away investors.

“We need to track the journey from promise to progress,” he said. “Every MoU signed must have a visible footprint. Investors should not return home with handshakes alone. We must create an environment where investment thrives — with roads, electricity, and security in place.”