In a statement in by the APF National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Idrisu Chado in Abuja on Thursday, the group described itself as a coalition of concerned citizens, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and youth groups from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The forum said the North, which played a significant role in the 2023 presidential election, deserves accountability and tangible improvements in living conditions.
The APF National Chairman, Idrisu Chado, expressed concern over worsening economic hardship, insecurity and unemployment across the region.
On security, the forum lamented the continued killings and kidnappings in states such as Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, Katsina and Sokoto, calling on the Federal Government to publish verified casualty figures and institute monthly security briefings for the North-West, North-East and North-Central regions.
The group also raised alarm over rising food prices, citing increasing costs of staple foods including rice and millet. It urged the government to release strategic grain reserves, provide targeted fertiliser subsidies for farmers and remove Value Added Tax (VAT) on staple food items.
Addressing the power sector, APF statement criticised persistent electricity shortages in major northern cities and called for accelerated implementation of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project as well as mass metering to eliminate estimated billing.
The forum further demanded an emergency declaration on education, citing the high number of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria. It called for increased investment in literacy programmes and integration of Almajiri education into the formal school system.
On infrastructure, APF questioned federal budget allocations and urged the government to publish a state-by-state breakdown of capital projects, while demanding the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway.
The group also advocated the establishment of a N500 billion Arewa Youth Development Fund to support agro-processing, textile and leather industries, as well as information technology hubs across the region.
Regarding farmer-herder conflicts, the forum called for the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan and greater involvement of traditional rulers, farmers and herders in peace-building initiatives.
It further urged the Federal Government to fully enforce the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments, insisting that funds meant for grassroots development should directly benefit communities.
Chado said the forum would begin a series of constitutional town hall meetings across Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Maiduguri and Abuja if no official response is received within the stipulated period.
"We voted for hope and development. What many people are experiencing today is hardship. Our demands are aimed at finding solutions to the challenges facing the North and the country at large," he said.
The forum announced plans to launch an "Arewa Town Hall Tour" beginning later this month to engage citizens and further push its demands before government authorities.
APF said victims of insecurity and economic hardship, including mothers, farmers and Almajiri pupils, participated in the event to share their experiences and highlight the realities facing communities across Northern Nigeria.