The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged Northern leaders to unite in tackling insecurity through collective action and sustained commitment.
The Sultan spoke on Wednesday in Kaduna at the joint meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum and inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Northern Security Trust Fund.
He commended Northern governors for establishing the fund, describing it as a practical step toward addressing persistent security challenges across the region.
The Sultan congratulated members of the Board of Trustees, expressing confidence in their integrity, transparency and capacity to manage the fund responsibly.
He said the board comprised distinguished Nigerians with proven records in military service, public administration and political leadership.
According to him, the region has discussed insecurity for years, but the inauguration signals the beginning of practical efforts to restore peace.
The traditional ruler assured the board of the unwavering support of Northern traditional institutions in achieving the trust fund’s objectives.
He urged board members to leverage traditional rulers’ knowledge of local communities in addressing insecurity effectively.
The Sultan stressed that security remained everyone’s responsibility, not that of security agencies, governors or traditional rulers alone.
He called on citizens to join efforts against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities threatening the region.
The Sultan recalled that Northern traditional rulers had submitted recommendations on insecurity to the Northern Governors’ Forum in 2014.
He said the recommendations reflected their longstanding commitment to finding lasting solutions to security challenges confronting the North.
The monarch urged governors to provide adequate funding for the trust fund, noting that meaningful security interventions required sustained financial support.
He reminded political leaders that they bore responsibility for the welfare of all citizens, irrespective of their backgrounds or conduct.
The Sultan thanked the Kaduna State Government for hosting the meeting and appreciated traditional rulers who attended or sent representatives.
He expressed optimism that unity, sincerity and God’s guidance would help restore lasting peace across Northern Nigeria.
