Northern governors back state police, plan multi-billion naira security fund

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, made the position known on Monday during the forum’s meeting in Abuja, stressing the need for decentralised, intelligence-driven security solutions.

“We have consistently maintained that the complexity of the threats we face requires localised responses that only state policing can effectively provide,” Yahaya said.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting efforts with the National Assembly to establish the constitutional framework required for state policing.

The forum also reviewed progress on the proposed Northern States Security Trust Fund, under which member states are expected to contribute N1 billion monthly. Yahaya described the initiative as a practical step toward strengthening regional security but noted uneven compliance among states.

He commended Nasarawa, Gombe, Borno, Kebbi, and Kaduna for meeting their obligations, urging others to do the same to ensure the effectiveness of the fund. He added that states would nominate trustees to guarantee transparency and accountability.

While acknowledging ongoing military operations, Yahaya cautioned that force alone would not resolve insecurity, linking the crisis to poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and underdevelopment. He called for sustained investment in education and human capital development as part of a long-term solution.

With the rainy season approaching, the forum also highlighted the need for durable solutions to farmer-herder conflicts, endorsing the Federal Government’s livestock transformation initiatives as a pathway to stability.

Yahaya urged residents of the region to remain resilient and support government efforts, calling for unity and decisive action to address the challenges facing Northern Nigeria.