Governors of the 19 Northern states and chairmen of the region’s traditional councils met on Monday in Kaduna, where they announced far-reaching resolutions aimed at addressing the escalating security challenges confronting the North.
The meeting, held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, brought together members of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council for what officials described as an “exhaustive and crucial” deliberation on issues affecting the region and the country at large.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, NSGF Chairman, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, said the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the unity, stability, and collective development of the region. He noted that stronger cooperation among states remained essential to tackling emerging threats.
The forum extended condolences to the governments and people of Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Kano States over recent killings and abductions involving schoolchildren and other residents. Similar sympathies were offered to victims of Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe States.
The governors commended President Bola Tinubu for the efforts that led to the safe and swift rescue of some abducted children, as well as for the Federal Government’s continuing response to insecurity. They further praised the sacrifices of security personnel engaged in counter-insurgency operations nationwide.
The forum pledged renewed support for ongoing military operations aimed at dislodging insurgents and criminal elements from their hideouts.
A major resolution from the meeting was the governors’ reaffirmed support for the establishment of State Police. They urged federal and state lawmakers from the region to fast-track the legislative process required for its actualisation.
The governors also identified illegal mining as a key driver of insecurity and recommended that the President direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to suspend all mining activities for six months. The suspension, they noted, would enable a comprehensive audit and revalidation of mining licences in collaboration with state governments.
As part of broader security reforms, the forum approved the creation of a Regional Security Trust Fund. Under the arrangement, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1 billion monthly, deducted at source, to strengthen security operations across the North.
The forum said it would reconvene at a later date to be announced.
