The 19 governors of Northern Nigeria have launched the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, committing to a monthly contribution of ₦1 billion from each state and its local government councils for one year to strengthen efforts to combat insecurity across the region.
The initiative was formally unveiled on Wednesday, July 08, during the meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum in Kaduna, where the Board of Trustees of the fund was also inaugurated.
Chairman of the forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, described the trust fund as a landmark regional intervention aimed at addressing the persistent security challenges confronting Northern Nigeria, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, drug abuse and other forms of criminality.
According to a statement issued by the Director-General of Press Affairs at the Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli, the governor said the initiative reflects the collective determination of northern governors to complement the Federal Government’s efforts to restore peace and security across the region.
Yahaya noted that previous meetings of the governors in Kaduna and Abuja concluded that the worsening security situation required stronger collaboration and coordinated action among the 19 northern states.
He explained that the Security Trust Fund would serve as a platform for mobilising financial resources, strengthening intelligence gathering and sharing, improving coordination among security agencies and enhancing the protection of lives and property.
The governor said the inauguration of the Board of Trustees marked the first practical step toward operationalising the initiative, adding that members were carefully selected from across the region based on their integrity, competence and commitment to public service.
He charged the trustees to ensure the fund delivers tangible results, warning against allowing it to become another bureaucratic institution with limited impact.
Northern Governors Commit N1bn Monthly To Regional Security Trust Fund
