19 Northern States to raise N228b security fund yearly, wants state police

By Samuel Ogunsona

Not less than N228b will be raised very year to fight insecrity in the North, the 19 Northern States have said.

The resolution was part of the decisions taken by the 19 Northern States at its regional meeting held in Kaduna on Monday.

The 19 states have been threatened by mass abductions, killings and banditry

The recent mass abduction of schoolchildren in Kwara and Kogi states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe is pushing the region to a breaking point.

Against this backdrop, the Northern States Governors’ Forum, in a meeting with the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, announced the bold new initiative to tackle the security challenge.

Irohinodua was informed that the governors have agreed to establish a regional security trust fund, with each of the 19 northern states contributing ₦1 billion monthly.

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, said, “The forum resolved to set up a regional security trust fund to be funded with monthly contributions of one billion naira… under a framework to be agreed upon.”

This fund aims to bolster security efforts and provide the necessary resources to combat the growing threat of insecurity in the region.

The governors have also called for a six-month suspension of all mining activities in northern Nigeria, citing the significant role illegal mining plays in fueling the insecurity crisis. According to them, artisanal miners and their financial backers have been supporting armed groups operating across the region.

The governors urged President Bola Tinubu to order an immediate suspension and initiate a comprehensive audit and revalidation of mining licenses in consultation with state governments.

In addition to these measures, the governors reiterated their support for the creation of state police forces, which they believe will enable more effective security management at the local level.

They urged lawmakers to expedite the constitutional amendments necessary to establish decentralized policing.

The decision to create a regional security trust fund and suspend mining activities comes as the North grapples with heightened insecurity. Mass abductions, killings, and attacks have become increasingly common, disrupting lives and livelihoods. The governors’ initiative represents a united effort to confront the security challenges and restore peace to the region.