Gbenga Adamolekun
Abuja: The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has pledged to intensify security efforts across the region, vowing to neutralise emerging threats and consolidate recent gains in the fight against banditry, insurgency, and communal violence.
Chairman of the forum, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State, disclosed this at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.
Yahaya said that the meeting was meant to deliberate on critical matters concerning the peace, stability and progress of the northern region.
At their last meeting in December 2025, the forum faced a serious security situation that required urgent, coordinated action.
He said collective efforts with the Federal Government have led to measurable security improvements in parts of Northern Nigeria.
He added that there can be no complacency, and that the region must sustain and intensify efforts to maintain security gains and neutralise new threats.
The governor said peace and security would be firmly established across the region through deliberate actions.
According to him, the safety of the people remains the foundation upon which all development rests.
He stated that efforts to strengthen and restructure the forum were already bearing fruit.
Yahaya said that the forum had continued to take on greater responsibilities in collectively shaping the future of northern Nigeria.
He assured the forum would improve coordination, maintain continuity, and boost capacity for strategic engagement and policy implementation.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports the forum previously decided to establish the Northern States Security Trust Fund (NSSTF).
“Each state was committed to contributing one billion Naira monthly to the fund,” the governor said.
He said the fund marks a practical step toward strengthening regional security through sustainable funding and collaboration.
He praised states that are already contributing and encouraged others to do so, noting that the fund’s success depends on commitment and urgency.
He said each state should nominate a trustee to the fund, improving oversight and governance as the operational framework develops.
Regarding the planned state police, Yahaya said the forum had been at the forefront of the growing national conversation about its creation.
He stated that only localised, intelligence-driven state policing can address the region’s complex security challenges.
The governor commended President Bola Tinubu for his leadership and support toward advancing the state police reform.
He acknowledged Tinubu’s commitment to working with the National Assembly to develop a constitutional framework for state policing.
He said the forum would continue to provide full support for this initiative as part of its broader strategy to secure the northern region.
Yahaya urged the region’s governors to proactively address the recurring farmer-herder conflicts, especially ahead of the rainy season.
He said this has long threatened peace and agriculture in the region.
The governor commended the 19 northern governors for their cooperation, solidarity, and commitment to the forum’s ideals.
“Together, through patience, resilience, and collective effort, we shall overcome our challenges and build a stronger, safer and more prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
