By Correspondent in Kaduna
Northern state governors on Monday approved the establishment of a Regional Security Trust Fund that will be financed through a mandatory N1 billion monthly contribution from each of the 19 states, marking one of the most far-reaching security interventions in the region’s recent history.
The decision was announced in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna, and attended by all Northern governors and traditional rulers.
According to the communiqué signed by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, who chairs the forum, the Trust Fund is intended to provide the financial backbone needed to confront the persistent security crises plaguing the region.
On the newly approved Security Trust Fund, the communiqué stated:
“In order to effectively confront the security crises in the North, the Forum resolved to set up a regional Security Trust Fund to be funded with monthly contribution of One Billion Naira from each state and local governments to be deducted at source under a framework to be agreed upon.”
The forum expressed deep concern over recent killings and mass abductions in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Kano States, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe States.
It condoled with affected families and pledged stronger coordination with security agencies.
Commending the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the forum reaffirmed its support for ongoing federal military operations and called for renewed offensive action against insurgent enclaves.
The governors restated their full support for the creation of state police, urging lawmakers at both the state and national levels to accelerate the constitutional process required to actualize it.
Raising another critical security concern, the forum noted that illegal mining had become a major driver of violence in Northern Nigeria and recommended a six-month suspension of mining activities to allow for a comprehensive audit and revalidation of licences.
The Forum commendes all members and our Royal Fathers for their steadfast commitment to the unity, security, stability and development of the region.
“At this pivotal juncture in our history, we recognise that only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us.Accordingly, we reaffirm our resolve to confront these challenges with firmness and clarity in order to fulfill our constitutional responsibility”,it said.
The Northern Governors’ Forum said it would reconvene soon to finalize operational details of the Trust Fund and review security developments across the region.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
