By Aza Msue and Nonye Ekwenugo and Babaji Usman Babaji
The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has inaugurated a Northern Nigerian Security Trust Fund with former minister of defence, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed and ex-chief of defence staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (retd.) as co-chairmen.
Other members are former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt Gen Umar Farouk Yahaya, a nominee from Sokoto State; retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa from Jigawa State, and retired Air Vice Marshall Kabiru Aliyu, former Director of Sports, Defence, from Taraba State.
Prof Usman Tar, Borno State Commissioner for Security, Air Vice Marshall Napoleon Bali (retd), a senator from Plateau State, and retired Major General A.M. Dikko, former National Coordinator of the National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, from Niger State.
The nominee from Gombe State is retired AIG Sunday Babaji, while AVM Farouk Omeiza Umar (retd), former Chief of Policy and Plans at the Defence Headquarters, represents Kogi State.
Retired Major General Muhammad Sani, ex Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation, is from Kano State, while Muhammad Mujtaba Isa is a former Head of Service of Zamfara State, and Alhaji Adamu Tanko Umar, from Nasarawa State, is a retired Chief Superintendent of Customs.
The nominee from Kaduna State is Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, former Head of Service, while retired DIG Sani Usman Mohammed is the Chief Security Officer of Bauchi State.
Retired Maj General Bello Sarkin Yaki, the ex Coordinator of the Counter Terrorism Centre, office of the National Security Adviser, is the nominee from Kebbi State.
Barrister Boss Mustafa, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, is from Adamawa while Alhaji Falalu Bawale, is the Head of Civil Service of Katsina State.
Retired Brig General Ibrahim Bolakala Agbab, former Chief of Staff, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, is from Kwara State; Maj General John Seyina Malu (retd), former Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluation is from Benue while former IGP Usman Alkali Baba is from Yobe State.
Speaking at the event, the governor of Gombe State and chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, recalled the Forum’s resolution at the meetings of 2nd December 2025 and 30 March 2026 in Kaduna and Abuja respectively.
He said, ‘’We were united on one conviction: that the security crisis in Northern Nigeria requires prompt, coordinated, and decisive measures in order to rescue our region from the brink of total collapse.’
“While the federal government bears primary responsibility for national security, the complementary efforts of the 19 Northern States are needed to support federal security efforts, facilitate intelligence sharing, foster community resilience, and establish a lasting framework for regional security and prosperity.’’
According to him, it is in furtherance of this commitment that the Forum resolved to establish the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund.
Governor Inuwa went on: “The Fund is conceived as a practical mechanism for mobilising resources, supporting security coordination, strengthening intelligence collaboration, and complementing the efforts of the federal government and its security agencies towards discharging the onerous task of securing our people and protecting our communities.”
“Today’s inauguration of the Board of Trustees marks the first major step toward actualising the Forum’s commitment to tackling the ravaging insecurity across our region in a more organizsed, coordinated, sustainable and accountable manner.’’
He further stated that the members had been carefully selected by the governments of the 19 northern states, adding that ‘’they are men who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour in the service of our great country.’’
He gave assurance that the Trust Fund is not intended to become another layer of bureaucracy and ‘’ must not be allowed to become an administrative structure that merely holds meetings.
“Rather, it must function as a focused, responsive and credible platform for resource mobilisation, strategic support, alignment and coordination with federal security agencies and other relevant institutions and stakeholders in order to secure our states.’’
According to him, the framework of the Fund clearly outlines the responsibilities of the Board of Trustees and ‘’these include but not limited to providing oversight, ensuring proper management of resources, promoting transparency and accountability.’’
Governor Yahaya said the framework will guide the prioritisation of interventions, and supporting initiatives that improve security coordination across Northern Nigeria.
“The Trustees are expected to act with diligence, independence, fairness and a strong sense of responsibility in discharging their duties,’’ he added.
“The Board must also ensure that the Fund remains practical and results-oriented. Our people are not looking for another institution; they are looking for action, protection, stability and hope.
“The success of this Fund will therefore be measured by the extent to which it supports real improvements in security coordination, intelligence sharing, rapid response and the overall protection of lives and property.”
In his speech, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State reaffirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing the development priorities of Northern Nigeria.
Tinubu said that the federal government had intervened strategically across the transportation, agriculture, healthcare, education and energy sectors, including infrastructure and national security.
According to the governor, these interventions are laying the solid foundation for long-term national growth and stability.
“For many years, Governors across party lines have advocated a policing architecture that is more responsive to local realities and better equipped to address contemporary security challenges.
“The establishment of State Police in Nigeria is not only a necessity but an urgent and strategic imperative.
“With Nigeria’s vast landscape, the increasing sophistication of criminal elements, and the paltry number of Police and Military personnel, the creation of State Police will no doubt be a force multiplier in our quest to degrade and decimate bandits, terrorists and kidnappers laying siege to our communities,” he added.
Sultan: North Must Unite Against Banditry, Terrorism
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar II, on Wednesday called on all northern stakeholders to close ranks against the scourge of banditry, terrorism and kidnapping, declaring that security is a collective responsibility.
Speaking at the 19th Northern Traditional Rulers and Governors’ Meeting in Kaduna, the Sultan said the region could only overcome insecurity through unity and collaboration among governments, security agencies, traditional institutions and citizens.
“Security is everybody’s responsibility. It’s not just for security agencies alone, or the governors alone, or traditional rulers alone. It’s everybody’s responsibility. We need to really come together and fight this menace of terrorism, abduction and whatever it is to the best of our ability,” he said.
He described the inauguration of the Board of Trustees to drive the North’s security intervention as a significant step towards finding lasting solutions to the region’s security challenges.
The Sultan said the board, made up of respected personalities from across the 19 northern states, would bring a practical approach to addressing insecurity.
“We’ve been talking and talking and talking through various papers. But today, with the inauguration of this committee, we believe we are ready to really start the job properly.”
He said the traditional institution would give the committee its full backing, assuring members that they could always rely on the support and local knowledge of traditional rulers.
“Reach out to us at any time of the day you want to talk to us. We will give you free consultation. We know the people, we know where we live, and we are ready 100 per cent to walk hand in hand with you.”
The Sultan also stressed that the fight against insecurity must transcend religious and ethnic differences, saying unity remained the North’s greatest strength.
“This is a source of unity for us. It comes from all the 19 northern states to serve in one body.
“We believe once you are united, you will be more focused. Unity is the most important thing.”
He recalled that northern traditional rulers had consistently warned against violent extremism, noting that the council had submitted recommendations on tackling insecurity to the Northern Governors’ Forum as far back as 2014.
“We never supported it. As Muslims, we never supported such things. We kicked against it so many years ago. We gave that paper in 2014… Today is the realisation of the day we believe will kick off the real hard work of bringing peace to the North.”
The Sultan urged governors to provide sustained funding for the new security initiative, saying no meaningful intervention could succeed without adequate resources.
“Nothing can be done without funds. You still have a lot to do to support this Board of Trustees.”
He expressed optimism that, with unity, commitment and divine support, the region would overcome its security challenges.
“There is nothing impossible when you believe in Almighty Allah. We do the best we can and leave the rest to Him. We have taken our case to Almighty Allah to help us in this journey.”
Improving Security Alone Cannot End Crisis In Northern Nigeria – Govs
Meanwhile, governors of Northern Nigerian states have declared that military operations alone cannot end the region’s prolonged security crisis.
They said that lasting peace depends on tackling poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and the growing number of out-of-school children through sustained investments in education, agriculture and youth empowerment.
The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, made this clarification on Wednesday during the meeting of the Forum and the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund in Kaduna.
Addressing governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, Yahaya said while security operations remain necessary, they must be complemented by deliberate socio-economic interventions that address the underlying conditions fuelling insecurity across the region.
“We must also continue to address the root causes of insecurity. Poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and the challenge of out-of-school children all contribute to the conditions that allow insecurity to thrive,” he said.
He stressed that investments in education, livelihoods, agriculture, youth empowerment and skills development were critical to breaking the cycle of violence and preventing young people from being drawn into criminal activities.
The Northern Governors’ Forum chairman also expressed concern over the impact of insecurity on farming activities, noting that many farmers have been unable to cultivate their lands due to attacks and community tensions, with serious implications for food production and economic stability.
He called for stronger collaboration among traditional institutions, local governments, security agencies and community leaders to prevent conflicts before they escalate, just as he advocated support for livestock transformation initiatives and other practical measures to promote peaceful coexistence and modernise agricultural production.
Yahaya reiterated that the newly inaugurated Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund was designed to complement existing national security efforts by improving coordination, intelligence sharing and resource mobilisation, rather than replacing federal security institutions.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly the national conversation on state policing, which he described as an important step toward improving local intelligence and community-based security responses.
