Northern governors launch Security Trust Fund to tackle insecurity

The Northern States Governors Forum has noted that the threats posed by banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, drug abuse and other forms of criminality have continued to undermine peaceful coexistence, disrupt livelihoods and weaken social cohesion, thereby slowing the pace of development in the region.

Speaking in Kaduna on Wednesday at the meeting of the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Northern Security Trust Fund, its Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said the governors were united in the conviction that the security crisis in Northern Nigeria requires prompt, coordinated and decisive measures to rescue the region from the brink of total collapse.

According to him, “While the Federal Government bears primary responsibility for national security, the complementary efforts of the 19 Northern states are needed so as to support federal security efforts, facilitate intelligence sharing, foster community resilience, and establish a lasting framework for regional security and prosperity.”

He further explained that, in furtherance of that commitment, the forum resolved to establish the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, saying it was conceived as a practical mechanism for mobilising resources, supporting security coordination, strengthening intelligence collaboration, and complementing the efforts of the Federal Government and its security agencies in discharging the onerous task of securing the people and protecting their communities.

The chairman stated, “Today’s inauguration of the Board of Trustees marks the first major step toward actualising the Forum’s commitment to tackling the ravaging insecurity across our region in a more organized, coordinated, sustainable and accountable manner.”

Yahaya explained that the members of the Board of Trustees being inaugurated had been carefully selected by the governments of the 19 Northern states, stressing that they are men who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour in the service of the country and expressing confidence that they would bring to the assignment their experience, integrity, patriotism and a deep understanding of the urgency of the moment.

The Trust Fund, he said, must function as a focused, responsive and credible platform for resource mobilisation, strategic support, alignment and coordination with federal security agencies and other relevant institutions and stakeholders in order to secure the states, stressing that the framework of the Fund clearly outlines the responsibilities of the Board of Trustees.

Speaking on insecurity in the region, the chairman lamented that the insecurity confronting Northern Nigeria is a stark and grievous reality, pointing out that it is destroying communities, weakening agriculture, discouraging investment, displacing families and threatening the future of the people.

“If we are to win this battle, we must match our words with action, our concerns with resources, and our resolutions with proper implementation,” he emphasised.

He urged governors in the region to continue supporting the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government and its security agencies in restoring peace and security across the country, while commending the President for his continued commitment to national security and openness to reforms that can strengthen the security architecture of the federation, especially the ongoing national conversation around state policing.

He added, “As a Forum, we remain convinced that the nature and complexity of insecurity in Northern Nigeria require stronger local intelligence, deeper community involvement and more responsive security intervention.

“We must also continue to address the root causes of insecurity. Poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and the challenge of out-of-school children all contribute to the conditions that allow insecurity to thrive. Security operations are necessary, but they must be reinforced by investment in education, livelihoods, agriculture, youth empowerment and skills development.”