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Mohammed Abubakar
Governor Mai Mala Buni of Gombe State and the Chairman Yobe State Council of Traditional Rulers/Emir of Fika Dr. Muhammad Ibn Abali Muhammadu Idrisa on Wednesday joined their Northern counterparts at the High-Level Joint Meeting of the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NNGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Council Chambers, Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
Governor Buni was represented at the meeting by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Mohammed Goje.
The meeting, chaired by the Chairman of the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, brought together the 19 Northern Governors, eminent traditional rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and heads of security agencies to deliberate on the prevailing security situation across the region and adopt practical measures aimed at restoring peace, stability, and sustainable development.
At the end of the meeting, the Forum issued a communiqué reaffirming its collective commitment to supporting ongoing federal security efforts while strengthening regional collaboration through intelligence sharing, community resilience, and coordinated interventions to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes across Northern Nigeria.
The Governors also welcomed the progress made toward the establishment of State Police, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the National Assembly for advancing the constitutional process, expressing confidence that properly trained, equipped, and accountable State Police would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
A major highlight of the meeting was the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund (NNSTF), a regional initiative established to mobilise sustainable resources, strengthen intelligence gathering, improve security coordination, and complement the efforts of federal security agencies.
The Board is co-chaired by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed, and former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (Rtd), with former Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Usman Baba, inaugurated as the representative of the states on the Board of Trustees alongside other distinguished retired military officers, security experts, technocrats, and public servants drawn from the 19 Northern states.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya charged members of the Board to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, transparency, and accountability, stressing that the success of the Trust Fund would be measured by its ability to strengthen intelligence sharing, improve security coordination, and enhance the protection of lives and property across the region.
The Forum further urged member states to fulfil their financial commitments to the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund to guarantee the sustainability of the initiative. It also called on traditional rulers, the private sector, development partners, civil society organisations, and citizens to support the collective effort to restore lasting peace and security across Northern Nigeria.
Recognising that insecurity is driven by multiple socio-economic factors, the governors resolved to intensify investments in education, agriculture, youth empowerment, job creation, skills acquisition, and poverty reduction. They also agreed to work closely with traditional institutions, local governments, and community leaders to safeguard farmers during the rainy season, prevent communal conflicts, and promote peaceful coexistence.
Beyond security, the forum resolved to deepen regional cooperation in education, healthcare, agriculture, and economic development through a unified framework that will promote coordinated interventions, innovation, and sustainable growth across Northern Nigeria.