The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Niger State for the 2027 election, Muhammad Nami, has called for urgent measures to protect rural women from insecurity, displacement, poverty and the worsening humanitarian crisis affecting communities across the state.

Nami made the call in a statement marking the International Day of Rural Women, stressing that the commemoration should go beyond speeches and symbolic celebrations to deliver tangible improvements in women’s safety, livelihoods and dignity.

He expressed concern over the security situation in Niger State, which he said had forced thousands of rural families to flee their ancestral homes, leaving women and children particularly vulnerable to attacks, kidnappings, killings and the destruction of livelihoods.

Citing figures attributed to the Niger State Government, Nami said more than 300,000 people had been displaced across 10 local government areas, describing the situation as a humanitarian emergency requiring immediate intervention and a comprehensive security strategy.

He noted that many rural women who previously sustained their families through farming, petty trading, food processing and other agricultural activities had been displaced from their communities, with some living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and others seeking refuge in neighbouring communities and across international borders.

According to him, the consequences of insecurity extend beyond the loss of homes and farmlands to include hunger, loss of income, disrupted education, limited access to healthcare and increased exposure to gender-based violence.

“Rural women must not be forgotten in the conversation about security and development in Niger State. They are mothers, farmers, food producers, entrepreneurs, and the backbone of our rural economy,” Nami said.

He added that the displacement of women from their farms and communities threatens food security, family stability and the state’s economic prospects.

The PDP candidate maintained that sustainable development would remain difficult to achieve if women continued to abandon their homes and livelihoods because of insecurity.

Nami called for a security framework that prioritises vulnerable rural communities, prevents attacks on farming settlements, facilitates the rescue of abducted persons and restores peace to areas affected by banditry and terrorism.

He said rural women should be able to cultivate their farms, transport produce to markets, access healthcare and send their children to school without fear of attacks, abduction or death.

“My vision for Niger State is one in which no woman is forced to abandon her home because armed groups have taken control of her community; no mother has to choose between risking her life on the farm and allowing her children to go hungry; and no family is left without hope because government has failed to protect them,” he said.

Proposed measures

To address the challenges facing rural women, Nami outlined six priority areas for intervention.

These include strengthening community-based intelligence and coordination among security agencies to improve the protection of rural settlements and farming communities.

He also advocated a framework for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of displaced families when security conditions permit, alongside the reconstruction of damaged homes, schools, healthcare facilities and other essential infrastructure.

On humanitarian assistance, Nami called for improved access to food, clean water, shelter, healthcare, menstrual hygiene products and psychosocial support for displaced women and children in camps and host communities.

He further proposed support for displaced farmers through access to land, seeds, fertilisers, farming equipment and financial assistance, alongside measures to ensure that returning residents could resume agricultural activities safely.

The candidate also emphasised economic empowerment through agricultural cooperatives, affordable credit, vocational training and support for small businesses to help rural women rebuild their livelihoods.

He called for inclusive governance that gives rural women a voice in decisions concerning security, resettlement and economic recovery, as well as transparent monitoring of public resources allocated to their welfare.

Nami also stressed the need to support host communities accommodating displaced families to prevent additional pressure on already limited resources.

He reaffirmed his commitment to a Niger State where rural women could live and work safely, contribute to agricultural and economic development, and raise their children with confidence in the future.

The PDP candidate concluded by paying tribute to rural women for their resilience amid insecurity and displacement, calling for renewed efforts to restore peace and rebuild affected communities.

“Their pain must strengthen our resolve to restore peace. Their resilience must inspire our commitment to rebuild. And their safety, dignity, and prosperity must become a priority in the future we seek for Niger State,” he said.