- Northern governors launched a Security Trust Fund to tackle insecurity
- The fund will support intelligence sharing and security operations
- Governors pledged funding and backed state police reforms
Governor of Gombe State and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Muhammadu Yahaya, has said the creation of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund represents a major step by the 19 northern governors to address the region’s growing security challenges.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Yahaya made the remarks on Wednesday during 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.
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According to a statement issued by the Director-General of Press Affairs at the Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli, the governor described insecurity as one of the greatest threats confronting Northern Nigeria, saying it continues to affect peace, economic activities and development across the region.
He noted that banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, drug abuse and other criminal activities have weakened social stability, disrupted livelihoods and slowed development in many northern states.
Yahaya recalled that during previous meetings in Kaduna and Abuja, members of the forum agreed that the worsening security situation required coordinated and decisive action. While acknowledging that the Federal Government has the constitutional responsibility for national security, he said the governors resolved to complement federal efforts through stronger regional collaboration.
According to him, the newly established Security Trust Fund will serve as a platform for mobilising financial resources, improving intelligence sharing, strengthening security coordination and supporting the work of federal security agencies in safeguarding lives and property.
The governor described the inauguration of the Board of Trustees as the first major step towards implementing the initiative, noting that members were selected from across the 19 northern states based on their integrity, patriotism and professional competence.
He urged the trustees to ensure the fund remains focused on delivering practical security solutions rather than becoming another bureaucratic institution.
“The Trust Fund must be a responsive and credible platform for resource mobilisation, strategic support and effective collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders,” he said.
Yahaya added that the success of the initiative would be measured by improvements in intelligence gathering, security coordination, rapid response capabilities and the protection of lives and property.
He also reminded his fellow governors of an earlier resolution requiring each northern state, alongside its local governments, to contribute ₦1 billion monthly for one year to finance the Trust Fund. While commending states that had begun fulfilling their commitments, he called on others to redeem their pledges promptly to ensure the initiative’s success.
The governor stressed that insecurity remains a serious threat to agriculture, investment, community development and social stability, warning that only sustained financial commitment and collective action would produce lasting results.
He commended President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for ongoing efforts to improve security nationwide, while welcoming discussions on the establishment of state police as part of broader security reforms.
Yahaya, however, clarified that the Security Trust Fund is designed to complement existing national security institutions rather than replace them.
Beyond military operations, he emphasised the need to address the root causes of insecurity through investments in education, agriculture, youth empowerment, job creation and skills development. He also urged governments to protect farmers during the rainy season, prevent communal conflicts and promote modern agricultural practices.
Calling for wider support, the forum chairman appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, community organisations, the private sector and development partners to contribute to the success of the initiative, insisting that security is a shared responsibility.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who hosted the meeting, said the North had continued to benefit from Federal Government interventions in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, transportation, energy and security.
He described the proposed establishment of state police as an urgent national priority, arguing that the existing policing structure was insufficient for a country of Nigeria’s size and population. Sani also praised President Tinubu and the National Assembly for advancing the State Police Bill, expressing confidence that it would strengthen efforts to combat terrorism, kidnapping and banditry.
Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, endorsed the establishment of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, describing it as a timely and practical response to the region’s security concerns.
The Sultan pledged the support of traditional rulers for the Board of Trustees and urged governors to provide adequate funding to ensure the initiative succeeds. He also called for increased investment in education to reduce the number of out-of-school children, describing education as essential to securing the region’s future.
The meeting was attended by governors and deputy governors from the 19 northern states, senior security officials, representatives of the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force, as well as traditional rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto.
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