The 19 northern governors have inaugurated the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, committing ₦1bn monthly per state for 12 months to tackle insecurity.
Chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum and Gombe Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, unveiled the board Wednesday in Kaduna, calling it a decisive step against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and drug abuse threatening livelihoods and development.
He recalled resolutions from previous Kaduna and Abuja meetings that the crisis demands prompt, coordinated action, stressing that while Federal Government has primary security duty, the North must complement it with regional collaboration.
Yahaya said the Fund will mobilise resources, strengthen intelligence sharing, support coordination and back federal security agencies, and must not become another bureaucracy that just holds meetings.
He said trustees were carefully selected from the 19 states for integrity, patriotism and experience, and will be judged by practical impact on coordination, rapid response and protection of lives.
The forum chairman reminded governors of their pledge – each state plus local governments to contribute ₦1bn monthly – commending those who have started paying while urging others to redeem promptly and consistently.
Yahaya commended President Tinubu’s efforts and state policing reforms, but warned security operations alone won’t work without tackling poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and out-of-school children, protecting farmers this rainy season, and calling on traditional rulers, religious leaders and private sector to support the collective fight.
Credit: Northerner Nigeria Hub
Facebook