Northern governors endorse state police, boost security funding

Northern governors endorse state police, boost security funding

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

Facing mounting pressure to curb worsening insecurity across Northern Nigeria, governors of the 19 northern states on Wednesday endorsed the establishment of state police, reaffirmed their commitment to a regional security trust fund, and unveiled a broader strategy aimed at tackling the socio-economic drivers of violent crime.

The decisions were reached at a joint meeting of the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NNGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna.

The meeting, chaired by the Governor of Gombe State and Chairman of the NNGF, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, brought together governors and traditional rulers to deliberate exclusively on the region’s security challenges amid persistent attacks by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers that continue to claim lives, displace communities and disrupt farming and economic activities.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the forum described the security situation in Northern Nigeria as one requiring “urgent, coordinated and decisive action” and pledged to deepen cooperation with federal security agencies through intelligence sharing, community engagement and stronger regional collaboration.

The governors also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ongoing efforts to address insecurity nationwide and reaffirmed their support for federal security operations.

The governors renewed their backing for the creation of state police, describing it as a critical component of broader security sector reforms.

They welcomed ongoing constitutional efforts to establish state police and commended President Tinubu and the National Assembly for advancing the process.

The forum expressed confidence that state police, if professionally recruited, adequately trained, properly funded and subject to effective oversight, would improve intelligence gathering and strengthen responses to local security threats.

The debate over state policing has gained momentum recently as many states continue to contend with insecurity despite increased military deployments. While supporters believe that local policing would improve accountability and response times, critics have raised concerns about potential political interference, emphasising the necessity of legal protections and oversight in the ongoing constitutional discussions.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, which aims to mobilise additional resources for regional security interventions.

The governors commended member states for redeeming their commitment to contribute ₦1 billion monthly to the fund and urged them to sustain the payments.

They expressed confidence in the newly inaugurated board of trustees of the fund, urging its members to discharge their responsibilities with transparency, fairness and accountability.

The forum also called on traditional rulers, civil society organisations, development partners, the media and citizens to support the initiative, noting that tackling insecurity requires collective action.

The governors acknowledged that military operations alone cannot end the region’s security crisis.

They identified poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and the growing number of out-of-school children as major drivers of insecurity and pledged greater investment in education, agriculture, youth empowerment, vocational training and job creation.

As the farming season gathers momentum, the forum also urged governments and security agencies to strengthen protection for farmers, particularly in communities affected by violence and communal tensions.

It further resolved to work with traditional institutions and local governments to prevent conflicts while promoting livestock transformation and other initiatives aimed at improving peaceful coexistence, modernising agriculture and protecting livelihoods.

Beyond security, the governors agreed to adopt a coordinated regional approach to development by strengthening collaboration in education, healthcare and agriculture.

According to the communiqué, the states will develop a common framework to pool resources, share technical expertise and implement policies capable of delivering long-term development across Northern Nigeria.

The communiqué was signed by Mr Yahaya, who said the forum would reconvene on a date to be announced.

Northern Nigeria remains the epicentre of several security crises, including the Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency in the North-east, armed banditry across the North-west, violent communal conflicts in parts of the North-central and widespread kidnapping for ransom. The violence has displaced millions of residents, disrupted agricultural production and deepened humanitarian and economic challenges across the region.

The decisions made in Kaduna show that northern governors are increasingly trying to support federal security efforts by introducing changes to institutions, working together regionally, and investing in long-term solutions to tackle the root causes of insecurity.