The Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council on Monday backed the establishment of state police and urged a six-month suspension of mining exploration across the region to tackle insecurity.
The joint meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna, drew all 19 northern governors and the chairmen of the region’s traditional rulers’ councils.
At the end of exhaustive deliberations, the forum issued a communiqué urging coordinated action to confront terrorism, banditry and rising poverty.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, chairman of the forum, said the North faces “the grim reality of insecurity and poverty that seeks to undermine our very existence.”
He warned that “future generations will judge today’s leaders not by the number of projects they commission, but by whether they bequeath to them a Northern Nigeria they can truly call home.”
On policing, the communiqué reaffirmed the forum’s “wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of State Police.”
Governor Yahaya told delegates that “state policing remains a critical and effective mechanism to address the security challenges confronting our communities,” and urged lawmakers from the region to fast-track the constitutional amendments required for its actualisation.
The governors also called for urgent action on illegal mining, saying the practice fuels insecurity.
“Illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria,” the communiqué read.
The forum resolved to recommend that the president direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to suspend mining exploration for six months to allow a full audit and revalidation of licences in consultation with state governments.
To mobilise immediate resources for security, the governors agreed to establish a regional Security Trust Fund.
Under the proposal, each state and local government will contribute one billion naira monthly, to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.
“We resolved to set up a regional Security Trust Fund to complement federal efforts and ensure sustained financing for security interventions,” the communiqué said.
The forum extended condolences to the people of Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano over recent killings and abductions, and sympathised with victims of Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.
Governor Yahaya paid tribute to the federal government and security forces for recent rescue efforts, saying, “We commend Mr President’s determination and the bravery of our servicemen who continue to battle these criminal networks.”
Traditional rulers were tasked to deploy their influence as stabilisers and urged to deepen community-level conflict resolution.
Religious leaders, the forum said, should preach tolerance and avoid incendiary rhetoric.
Security agencies were encouraged to sustain proactive surveillance while the judiciary was asked to ensure swift criminal justice delivery.
The communiqué emphasised that the crisis is driven not only by crime but also by underdevelopment, illiteracy, poor resource management, climate impacts and the abandonment of millions of almajiri and out-of-school children.
“These issues transcend borders and demand coordinated regional thinking and unified action,” the statement said.
The forum said it will reconvene on a date to be communicated and pledged continued cooperation with the Federal Government “to turn the tide and ensure lasting peace and stability for our region and the nation at large.”
