The Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council have jointly announced the establishment of a landmark Regional Security Trust Fund to tackle the escalating security crisis in Northern Nigeria.

The decision was reached on Monday, 1st December 2025, during an emergency meeting held at the Council Chamber of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna. The session was attended by all 19 Northern Governors and the Chairmen of the Traditional Rulers’ Councils across the region.

According to the communiqué signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, each Northern state and its local governments will contribute N1 billion monthly, deducted at source, under an agreed framework to strengthen coordinated security operations across the region.

The Forum commended Northern traditional rulers and governors for their continued commitment to unity, stability, and development, noting that cooperation and peer review remain essential in overcoming current challenges.

The meeting also expressed deep condolences to the governments and people of Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Kano States over recent killings and mass abductions, as well as to victims of Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe States.

The governors lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for efforts toward securing the release of abducted schoolchildren and tackling insurgency, pledging renewed support for federal actions aimed at dismantling criminal enclaves.

Reaffirming their commitment to the establishment of state police, the Forum urged Northern legislators at federal and state levels to fast-track the process to enhance community-based security.

Concerned about the role of illegal mining in fueling insecurity, the Forum resolved to recommend a six-month suspension of mining exploration nationwide to allow for a comprehensive audit and revalidation of mining licences in collaboration with state governments.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to reconvene at a later date.