Northern govs unveil security trust fund board, commit ₦1bn monthly to tackle insecurity

Governor of Gombe State and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Muhammadu Yahaya, on Wednesday said the establishment of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund marked a decisive step by the 19 northern governors to confront the region’s worsening security crisis.

Speaking at the meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund in Kaduna, Yahaya said insecurity had continued to threaten peace, livelihoods and development across the North.

This was contained in a statement sent to our correspondent by the Director-General of Press Affairs, Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli.

He said, “Today marks a significant milestone in our collective effort to confront one of the most serious challenges facing Northern Nigeria: the challenge of insecurity.”

According to him, “Across the North, in every state, the threats posed by banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, drug abuse and other forms of criminality have continued to undermine peaceful coexistence, disrupt livelihoods and weaken social cohesion, thereby slowing down the pace of development in our great region.”

The governor recalled that during previous meetings in Kaduna and Abuja, the governors agreed that the security crisis demanded “prompt, coordinated and decisive measures” to rescue the region.

While noting that the Federal Government retained primary responsibility for national security, Yahaya said the northern states had resolved to complement federal efforts through stronger regional collaboration.

“It was in furtherance of this commitment that the Forum resolved to establish the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund,” he said.

He explained that the fund would mobilise resources, strengthen intelligence collaboration, support security coordination and complement the work of federal security agencies in protecting lives and property.

Describing the inauguration of the Board of Trustees as the first major step towards implementing the initiative, Yahaya said members were carefully selected from across the 19 northern states based on their integrity, patriotism and professional experience.

“The members of the Board of Trustees are men who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour in the service of our great country. We are confident that they will bring to this assignment their experience, integrity, patriotism and a deep understanding of the urgency of the moment,” he said.

He charged the trustees to ensure the fund delivered practical results rather than becoming another bureaucratic institution.

“Let me state clearly that the Trust Fund is not intended to become another layer of bureaucracy. It must not be allowed to become an administrative structure that merely holds meetings.

“Rather, it must function as a focused, responsive and credible platform for resource mobilisation, strategic support, alignment and coordination with federal security agencies and other relevant institutions and stakeholders.”

Yahaya said the success of the fund would be measured by its impact on security coordination, intelligence sharing, rapid response and the protection of lives and property.

The forum chairman also reminded his colleagues of their earlier resolution that each northern state, alongside its local governments, would contribute ₦1bn monthly for 12 months to finance the Trust Fund.

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“I wish to commend the states that have already begun redeeming their commitments,” he said.

“However, the task before us is too urgent and too important to be left to a few states alone. I therefore call, strongly and respectfully, on all my brother governors to redeem their pledges promptly and consistently.”

He stressed that the trustees required adequate funding and institutional support to succeed.

“Our commitment must be demonstrated not only in resolutions and communiqués, but also in timely and sustained financial contributions and actions,” he said.

Describing insecurity as “a stark and grievous reality,” Yahaya warned that it was destroying communities, weakening agriculture, discouraging investment, displacing families and threatening the future of the region.

“If we are to win this battle, we must match our words with action, our concerns with resources, and our resolutions with proper implementation,” he said.

He commended President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for ongoing efforts to improve national security and welcomed ongoing reforms, particularly discussions on state policing.

The governor clarified that the Security Trust Fund was designed to complement, not replace, existing national security structures.

“Its purpose is to support coordination, strengthen partnerships and enable the Northern States to make a more effective contribution to the national security efforts,” he said.

Yahaya argued that lasting peace would require tackling the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and the growing number of out-of-school children.

“Security operations are necessary, but they must be reinforced by investment in education, livelihoods, agriculture, youth empowerment and skills development,” he said.

He also urged governments to protect farmers during the rainy season, prevent communal conflicts, and promote livestock transformation and modern agricultural practices to strengthen the economy.

Calling for unity among northern leaders, the governor assured the newly inaugurated trustees of the forum’s full support.

“I also call on our traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, civil society organisations, the private sector, development partners and all people of goodwill to support this initiative,” he said.

“Security is not the responsibility of government alone. It is a collective duty, and every stakeholder has a role to play.”

Yahaya urged all stakeholders to “rise above narrow interests” and work together to restore confidence, strengthen collaboration with federal security agencies and build “a stronger, safer and more prosperous Northern Nigeria.”