The Northern Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council have agreed on a raft of new security measures, including full support for state policing, a temporary halt to mining activities, and the creation of a regional security trust fund to tackle worsening insecurity across the North.
RoundReports understood that the decisions were contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting held on Monday at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, attended by the 19 governors of the northern states and the chairmen of the traditional councils.
During the meeting, the Forum praised the commitment of both political leaders and traditional rulers to the unity and stability of the region, saying its members remain determined to confront security challenges “with firmness and clarity.”
The governors and royal fathers offered condolences to residents of Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano, where recent killings and abductions have occurred, as well as communities affected by Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.
They commended President Bola Tinubu for efforts to secure the release of abducted schoolchildren and other steps taken to address insecurity, noting the sacrifices of security personnel deployed across the country.
Furthermore, they pledged support for measures aimed at “taking the fight to insurgents’ enclaves.”
Reaffirming their backing for the establishment of state police, the governors urged federal and state lawmakers from the region to fast-track legislative processes needed to bring it into effect.
The Forum identified illegal mining as a huge driver of insecurity and resolved to recommend that the Federal Government suspend mining exploration for six months to allow for a comprehensive audit.
Mining licences, it stated, should be revalidated during this period in consultation with state governments.
To strengthen regional responses, the governors agreed to set up a Northern Security Trust Fund.
Under the plan, each state and its local governments will contribute N1 billion monthly, deducted at source under an agreed framework.
The Forum is expected to reconvene at a later date.
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