The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has reiterated its backing for the creation of state police as part of efforts to strengthen security across the region.
The announcement was made by the forum’s Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, during the NSGF meeting held in Abuja.
Governor Yahaya highlighted the need for localised, intelligence-driven responses to address the increasing complexity of security challenges in the North.
“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,” he said.
The governor also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for collaborating with the National Assembly to provide the constitutional framework necessary for the establishment of state police.
The forum reaffirmed its commitment to the Northern States Security Trust Fund, under which member states agreed to contribute N1 billion monthly. While contributions have varied across states, Yahaya commended Nasarawa, Gombe, Borno, Kebbi, and Kaduna for meeting their obligations and urged other states to comply promptly. “The effectiveness of this Fund depends on our collective commitment, consistency, and shared sense of urgency,” he added.
Yahaya stressed that states are required to nominate trustees to ensure transparent oversight of the Fund. He also underscored that military action alone cannot resolve insecurity in the North, linking the crisis to deep-rooted socio-economic issues.
“Insecurity in Northern Nigeria is deeply intertwined with issues of illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment. If we are to achieve lasting peace, we must invest deliberately and massively in education and human capital development,” he said.
The forum’s statement signals a continued push for a multi-faceted approach to regional security, combining state policing, strategic funding, and socio-economic investment to tackle the root causes of insecurity.
