Northern leaders have said they will support a presidential candidate that has the tact and capacity to tackle the security and other challenges bedevilling the region.

The northern leaders, from the 19 states and the FCT, at a 2-day conference in Abuja, organised by a pro-northern group, Arewa New Agenda (ANA), said insecurity, disunity, backwardness and other social issues were militating against the development of the region.

They also bemoaned the inability of the region's leaders to set in motion steps towards addressing the problems facing it.

The Secretary-General, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Murtala Aliyu, noted that the region must "reinforce its confidence and negotiate with the country's political leadership to ensure its speedy development."

His position was corroborated by the Director of Arewa House, Dr Shuaibu Aliyu, who, in his submission, observed that the region remains the force unifying the country.

Senator Ahmad Moallahyidi, the convener of the conference, explained that with a land mass of 98.3 million hectares, of which 82 million is arable, the region can feed not just Nigeria, but the entire West African subregion, adding that its challenges must be tackled.