Governors from Nigeria’s 19 northern states have launched the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund and committed to contributing ₦1 billion monthly for one year to strengthen efforts against insecurity across the region.
The announcement was made on Wednesday in Kaduna during the meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Trust Fund.
Chairman of the forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, described the initiative as a major step toward tackling persistent security threats, including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, drug abuse, and other criminal activities affecting northern communities.
He said the worsening security situation had disrupted livelihoods, weakened social cohesion, slowed economic growth, and threatened development across the region.
Yahaya explained that the Trust Fund was created to complement the Federal Government’s security efforts by mobilising financial resources, improving intelligence sharing, strengthening coordination among security agencies, and supporting operations aimed at protecting lives and property.
According to him, the newly inaugurated Board of Trustees was carefully selected from across the 19 northern states based on integrity, experience, and patriotism. He urged members to ensure the Trust Fund delivers practical results rather than becoming another bureaucratic institution.
“The Trust Fund must remain a credible platform for resource mobilisation, strategic support, and effective coordination with federal security agencies,” he said.
The governor reminded his colleagues of their earlier agreement that each northern state, alongside its local governments, would contribute ₦1 billion monthly over a 12-month period to finance the initiative. He commended states that had already begun fulfilling their commitments while urging others to do the same promptly.
Yahaya stressed that lasting peace would require not only military operations but also investments in education, agriculture, youth empowerment, skills development, and job creation to address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and the growing number of out-of-school children.
He also called for stronger collaboration among traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups, development partners, the private sector, and local communities, noting that security is a shared responsibility.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, who hosted the meeting, praised the Federal Government’s interventions in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, energy, and security, describing them as vital to the region’s long-term development.
He also renewed calls for the establishment of state police, describing it as an urgent necessity to improve local security and tackle crimes such as banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping more effectively. Sani commended President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly for advancing the proposed State Police Bill.
Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, endorsed the creation of the Security Trust Fund, describing it as a long-overdue response to the region’s security challenges.
The traditional ruler pledged the support of northern traditional institutions to the Board of Trustees and urged governors to ensure the fund is adequately financed.
He also appealed for greater investment in education, particularly to reduce the number of out-of-school children, insisting they should be supported rather than stereotyped.
The meeting was attended by governors and deputy governors from the 19 northern states, senior security officials, and traditional rulers. The Director-General of the Department of State Services and a representative of the Inspector-General of Police were present, while the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa (retd.), was absent and did not send a representative.
