Governors of the 19 northern states have launched the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund (NNSTF) and pledged a monthly contribution of ₦1 billion from member states to strengthen regional security coordination and support efforts to address persistent security challenges.
The decision was reached on Wednesday at a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors' Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers' Council, held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna and monitored by PREMIUM TIMES.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, said discussions were frank, constructive and driven by a shared understanding that insecurity in Northern Nigeria demands more than isolated interventions by individual states. 'The security challenges confronting Northern Nigeria require coordinated responses anchored on partnership, trust and shared responsibility,' the governor said.
The forum reaffirmed its support for the federal government's ongoing efforts to improve security nationwide and commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as decisive steps to strengthen Nigeria's security architecture.
The governors also welcomed the progress made towards establishing state police, describing the reform as both timely and necessary. 'A decentralised policing system—supported by constitutional safeguards, professional standards and effective institutional accountability—would strengthen community policing and significantly enhance the country's capacity to protect lives and property,' the forum said.
To ensure the sustainability of the initiative, governors committed their states to contributing ₦1 billion every month to the fund. The financial commitment reflects their collective determination to build a more coordinated regional security framework that complements the efforts of federal security agencies and responds more effectively to emerging threats.
Northern Nigeria has, for over a decade, been the epicentre of several security challenges, including terrorism in the North-east, banditry in the North-west, farmer-herder conflicts, kidnapping for ransom and communal violence.
Analysts have repeatedly called for stronger regional collaboration, greater investment in intelligence gathering and improved community-based security initiatives to complement federal efforts.
Some observers who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES after the meeting commended the governors for taking concrete steps towards improving regional security.
Sagir Buba, a public affairs analyst in Kaduna, described the establishment of the Security Trust Fund as 'one of the boldest regional security initiatives in recent years.'
Ladi Aboki, a resident of Kaduna, praised Governor Uba Sani for hosting the meeting and bringing political leaders and traditional rulers together.
'It is encouraging to see governors and our traditional rulers speaking with one voice. We hope the resolutions reached here will translate into improved security for ordinary Nigerians,' she said.
Ibrahim Yusuf, a security and governance expert, said the initiative's success would depend on transparency and accountability.
'The Trust Fund has enormous potential, but its credibility will rest on prudent management, proper oversight and measurable impact on security across the region,' he noted.
Key Facts
• Northern Nigeria has been the epicentre of several security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, kidnapping for ransom and communal violence. • The governors have pledged to contribute ₦1 billion every month to the security trust fund. • The fund is aimed at strengthening regional security coordination and supporting efforts to address persistent security challenges. • The governors welcomed the progress made towards establishing state police, describing the reform as both timely and necessary. • The initiative's success will depend on transparency and accountability.