Governors of the 19 Northern states on Monday pledged to intensify coordinated efforts to confront the rising wave of banditry and terrorism plaguing the region, even as they admitted that sustained vigilance remains critical to securing recent gains.
The pledge was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) held in Abuja, where the governors reviewed the security situation and outlined fresh strategies to strengthen peace and stability across the North.
Chairman of the forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said the meeting focused on critical issues affecting development in the region, particularly security challenges, governance coordination, and policy implementation.
Yahaya noted that while the security landscape had improved since the forum’s last meeting in December 2025, largely due to collaborative efforts with the Federal Government, there was no room for complacency.
“Today, I am encouraged to note that through our collective efforts and the support of the Federal Government, the security situation across parts of Northern Nigeria has shown measurable improvement,” he said.
He, however, warned that emerging threats must be proactively neutralised to prevent a resurgence of violence.
“However, there is absolutely no room for complacency. We must sustain and intensify our collective efforts to consolidate on the gains recorded by neutralising emerging threats,” the governor added.
According to him, the safety of citizens remains the bedrock of development, stressing that no meaningful progress can be achieved without peace and stability.
The forum also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening institutional frameworks within its structure, noting that ongoing reforms were already improving coordination and policy execution among member states.
A major highlight of the meeting was the continued push for the establishment of the Northern States Security Trust Fund (NSSTF), a regional financing mechanism designed to support security operations.
The governors had earlier resolved that each state would contribute ₦1bn monthly to the fund to ensure a sustainable security architecture capable of responding to evolving threats.
Yahaya urged member states to remain consistent with their contributions, warning that the effectiveness of the initiative depended on collective commitment.
He also disclosed that each state would nominate a trustee to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of the fund.
On the contentious issue of state policing, the governors reiterated their longstanding support for decentralised policing as a solution to Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
“We have consistently maintained that the nature and complexity of the security challenges we face require localised, intelligence-driven responses that only state policing can effectively provide,” Yahaya said.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to advancing the state police agenda, noting that collaboration with the National Assembly to establish the necessary constitutional framework marks a significant step forward.
The governors also raised concerns over recurring farmer-herder conflicts, particularly ahead of the rainy season, warning that the clashes could undermine agricultural productivity and worsen insecurity if not urgently addressed.
Yahaya called for proactive interventions to prevent tensions between farming and herding communities, stressing that peace in rural areas was essential to food security and economic stability.
The forum commended governors across the region for their unity and resilience in tackling shared challenges, expressing optimism that continued collaboration would yield lasting solutions.
“Together, through patience, resilience, and collective effort, we shall overcome our challenges and build a stronger, safer and more prosperous Nigeria,” Yahaya said.
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