Northern governors inaugurate security trust fund board, seek united fight against insecurity

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), on Wednesday inaugurated the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund to strengthen regional security coordination.

The Chairman of the forum and governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said the initiative reflected the governors’ collective resolve to tackle insecurity.

He described banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, drug abuse and other crimes as major threats undermining peace, livelihoods and development across Northern Nigeria.

Yahaya said the fund would mobilise resources, strengthen intelligence sharing and complement the efforts of the Federal Government and security agencies.

According to him, the inauguration of the board marked a critical step toward delivering a coordinated, transparent and sustainable response to insecurity.

The chairman said trustees were selected by the 19 northern states based on integrity, patriotism and experience to drive the initiative.

He urged the trustees to ensure accountability, prudent management of resources, and measurable improvements in security coordination and rapid response.

Yahaya stressed that the fund must remain action-driven and should not become another bureaucratic institution holding endless meetings.

He recalled the forum’s resolution that each northern state and its local governments should contribute N1 billion monthly for 12 months to finance the fund.

The governor commended states that had started fulfilling their commitments and urged others to redeem their pledges without delay.

He noted that insecurity had devastated communities, weakened agriculture, discouraged investment and displaced thousands across the region.

Yahaya reaffirmed the forum’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s security reforms, including ongoing discussions on state policing.

He said the fund would complement existing national security structures through stronger partnerships, intelligence sharing and community participation.

The governor also called for increased investment in education, agriculture, youth empowerment and skills acquisition to address the root causes of insecurity.

Earlier, Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State welcomed governors and traditional rulers, describing the meeting as vital to regional peace and development.

Sani commended Yahaya’s leadership, saying the forum had remained focused on issues affecting millions of people across Northern Nigeria.

He applauded the Tinubu administration for interventions in transportation, agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure and national security.

The Kaduna governor described the proposed establishment of state police as an urgent and strategic reform to address evolving security threats.

According to him, state police will strengthen local security architecture and improve responses to banditry, terrorism and kidnapping.

Sani commended Tinubu and the National Assembly for advancing the constitutional process toward establishing state police.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Yayale Ahmed, and retired Gen. Martin Luther Agwai were inaugurated as Co-Chairmen of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, alongside other board members representing the 19 northern states.