The Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), in collaboration with the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, has launched the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund (NNSTF) to strengthen the fight against insecurity across the 19 northern states, with each state committing ₦1 billion monthly to finance the initiative.
The decision was reached during a joint meeting at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, where a 21-member Board of Trustees was inaugurated to oversee the Fund aimed at improving intelligence gathering, enhancing security coordination, and mobilising sustainable resources to combat banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and other security threats.
Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, joined his counterparts at the meeting, reaffirming Plateau’s commitment to regional peacebuilding and collaborative security efforts. Former Plateau South Senator, Napoleon Bali, was appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees, further positioning the state as a key contributor to regional security initiatives.
Speaking during the inauguration, NGF Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, described the Trust Fund as a major milestone in addressing Northern Nigeria’s security challenges through coordinated regional action and sustainable financing.
The governors also reiterated their support for the establishment of state police and pledged to address the root causes of insecurity through investments in education, agriculture, youth empowerment, and economic development, while calling for stronger collaboration with traditional institutions, security agencies, and community leaders to restore lasting peace across the region.
