Northern governors and traditional rulers have proposed a six-month suspension of mining activities across the region, warning that illegal mining has become a major accelerant of banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes troubling northern Nigeria.
Naijaonpoint reports that the proposal was contained in a communiqué issued on Monday, December 1, after a joint session of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council (NTRC) at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The meeting, chaired by NSGF Chairman and Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, had all 19 northern governors and chairmen of the 19 traditional councils in attendance.
The leaders expressed deep concern over the renewed wave of killings, abductions and terror attacks recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as fresh Boko Haram assaults in Borno and Yobe.
In their words, the attacks on schoolchildren and rural communities had become “unacceptable tragedies” requiring urgent, coordinated intervention.
“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué stated.
The regional leaders praised President Bola Tinubu for what they described as the government’s “firm response” to the recent abductions, particularly the rescue of some kidnapped schoolchildren.
They also acknowledged the sacrifices of security operatives fighting on multiple fronts.
“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the northern governors affirmed.
One of the major resolutions of the meeting was the North’s renewed and united endorsement of state police, which the leaders argued had become unavoidable in the face of escalating insecurity.
“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué read, urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to expedite action for its actualisation.
See the communique below:
‘Northern Governors Launch Landmark Regional Security Trust Fund with N1bn Monthly Contributions Per State’
COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AFTER THE JOINT MEETING OF THE NORTHERN STATES GOVERNORS’ FORUM AND THE NORTHERN TRADITIONAL RULERS’ COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY, 1ST DECEMBER, 2025 AT THE KASHIM IBRAHIM HOUSE, KADUNA
The Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council convened a joint meeting today, Monday, 1st December, 2025 at the Council Chamber, Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna
The meeting was attended by Their Excellencies, the Governors of the 19 Northern States and Their Royal Highnesses, The Chairmen of the 19 Northern States Traditional Rulers’ Councils. After exhaustive deliberations on critical issues of common interest impacting both the region and the nation, the Forum hereby presents the following communiqué:
The Forum commends all members and our Royal Fathers for their steadfast commitment to the unity, security, stability and development of the region. At this pivotal juncture in our history, we recognise that only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us. Accordingly, we reaffirm our resolve to confront these challenges with firmness and clarity in order to fulfill our constitutional responsibility.
The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the Governments and good people of Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano States following the recent killings and abductions of school children and other innocent citizens, as well as to the victims of the Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe States.
The Forum commends the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the prompt release of some of the abducted children and in handling other security challenges. We equally commend the sacrifices of our servicemen in uniform who continue to battle various forms of violent insurgencies across the country.
Consequently, the Forum resolved to renew its support for every step to be taken by the President and Commander- In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria in taking the fight against insurgents to their enclave in order to bring an end to the criminality.
The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of State Police.Accordingly, the Forum encourages National and States Assembly Members in the region to expedite action for its actualisation.
The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria, the Forum therefore resolved to strongly recommend to the President to direct the Hon. Minister of Solid Minerals to suspend mining exploration for a period of 6 (six) months to allow proper audit. Subject all mining Licences to revalidation for a period of six months in activeconsultation with the various State Governors and in the process arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining.
In order to effectively confront the security crises in the North, the Forum resolved to set-up a regional Security Trust Fund to be funded with monthly contribution of One Billion Naira from each state and local governments to be deducted at source under a framework to be agreed upon.
Forum resolved to reconvene on a date to be communicated.
Signed: Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON
Governor of Gombe State/ Chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum.”
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