Leaders of 19 northern states adopt regional security funding, seek six-month halt to mining and push for major reforms to curb worsening violence.
Northern Nigerian governors have approved the creation of a regional security trust fund that will draw a combined ₦1 billion each month from state and local governments, in one of the most ambitious attempts yet to confront the region’s deepening insecurity.
The decision was announced Monday in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council. The forum said the fund, to be deducted at source, would strengthen coordinated efforts against armed violence, which has devastated rural communities and disrupted economic activity across the north.
Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya, who chairs the NSGF, said the fund would operate under a framework to be finalized by all contributing states. He noted that years of banditry, terrorism and kidnapping have eroded public confidence, adding that collective funding was now essential for sustaining more robust security operations.
In a significant policy recommendation, the governors urged President Bola Tinubu to impose an immediate six-month suspension of all mining activities in northern Nigeria. They argued that illegal mining has become a key driver of insecurity, alleging that artisanal mining networks and their financial backers have been supporting armed groups.
Read Also: Gunmen Attack Advance Team Of Abia Governor Otti In Imo State
The forum called for a comprehensive audit and revalidation of existing mining licenses during the suspension period, in close consultation with state authorities. They stressed that without tighter oversight, the minerals sector would continue to fuel criminal operations and undermine national revenue.
The meeting also commended President Tinubu for federal efforts leading to the recent rescue of abducted schoolchildren, praising security agencies for what the communiqué described as sustained courage in confronting armed groups. The governors acknowledged the heavy toll faced by communities and security personnel but emphasized that gains made in recent operations should now be consolidated through better regional coordination.
Reaffirming their support for the establishment of state police, the governors urged northern members of the National Assembly and state legislatures to expedite the constitutional amendments required to formalize decentralized policing. They argued that states need more localized and responsive security structures to confront threats that vary widely across the region.
The forum said the new security fund, combined with the proposed mining suspension and policing reforms, would form the foundation of a long-term strategy to stabilize the north. More details on implementation are expected in the coming weeks as state governments begin harmonizing contributions and operational guidelines.