The 19 Northern States Governors’ Forum has inaugurated the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund as part of renewed efforts to tackle insecurity across the region through coordinated action, intelligence sharing and resource mobilisation.
Former Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, and former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), were named Co-Chairmen of the Board at the inauguration held on Wednesday at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna.
Other members of the Board include former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Umar Farouk Yahaya (rtd); former Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa; former Director of Sports at the Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Kabiru Aliyu (rtd); Borno State Commissioner for Security, Prof. Usman Tar; Senator Napoleon Bali (rtd); Major General A.M. Dikko (rtd); former AIG Sunday Babaji; Air Vice Marshal Farouk Omeiza Umar (rtd); Major General Muhammad Sani (rtd).
Also on the list, Muhammad Mujtaba Isa; Alhaji Adamu Tanko Umar; Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha; DIG Sani Usman Mohammed (rtd); Major General Bello Sarkin Yaki (rtd); former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Alhaji Falalu Bawale; Brigadier General Ibrahim Bolakala Agbab (rtd); Major General John Seyina Malu (rtd); and former Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba.
Speaking during the inauguration, Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said the establishment of the Trust Fund was informed by resolutions reached by the governors at their meetings in Kaduna on December 2, 2025, and Abuja on March 30, 2026.
He said the governors were united by the conviction that the worsening security situation in Northern Nigeria required coordinated and decisive action to rescue the region from persistent violence.
While acknowledging that the Federal Government has the constitutional responsibility for national security, Yahaya stressed that the northern states must complement federal efforts through intelligence sharing, community engagement and institutional collaboration.
He said the Trust Fund would serve as a platform for mobilising resources, strengthening security coordination and supporting the operations of security agencies in addressing insecurity across the region.
“The Fund is not intended to become another layer of bureaucracy. It must remain a practical, responsive and credible platform that delivers measurable improvements in security coordination, intelligence gathering, rapid response and the protection of lives and property,” he said.
Yahaya urged members of the Board to discharge their responsibilities with transparency, accountability and independence, noting that the people of the region were expecting concrete action rather than another institution.
Earlier, the host governor, Uba Sani of Kaduna State, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as sustained interventions in transportation, agriculture, healthcare, education, energy, infrastructure and national security, saying they had laid the foundation for long-term national growth and stability.
The governor also renewed his call for the establishment of state police, describing it as an urgent national necessity.
According to him, the growing sophistication of criminal groups and the shortage of security personnel have made the creation of state police inevitable.
He commended President Tinubu and the National Assembly for advancing the State Police Bill, expressing confidence that the legislative process would soon be concluded.
Uba Sani said the establishment of state police would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and improve efforts to combat banditry, terrorism and kidnapping across the country.
