The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), on Monday, resolved to sustain and intensify efforts on the security gains recorded in the region by neutralising emerging threats.

Chairman of the forum, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja.

Mr Yahaya said that the meeting was meant to deliberate on critical matters concerning the peace, stability and progress of the northern region.

He noted that when the forum last met in December 2025, it was confronted with a deeply troubling security situation that demanded urgent, coordinated and decisive solution.

“Today, I am encouraged to note that through our collective efforts and the support of the Federal Government, the security situation across parts of Northern Nigeria has shown measurable improvement.

“However, there is absolutely no room for complacency. We must sustain and intensify our collective efforts to consolidate on the gains recorded by neutralising emerging threats,” he said.

The governor added that conscious efforts would be made to ensure that peace and security take firm and lasting root across the region.

According to him, the safety of the people remains the foundation upon which all development rests.

He stated that efforts toward the institutional strengthening and restructuring of the forum are already bearing fruit.

Mr Yahaya said that the forum had continued to take on greater responsibilities in collectively shaping the future of northern Nigeria.

He assured that the forum would enhance coordination, ensure continuity and improve its capacity for strategic engagement and policy implementation.

The forum, at its last meeting, took far-reaching decisions, particularly the resolution to establish the Northern States Security Trust Fund (NSSTF).

“Each state was committed to contributing one billion Naira monthly to the fund,” the governor said.

He said that the initiative represented a bold and practical step toward strengthening the regional security architecture through sustainable funding and collaborative engagement.

Mr Yahaya, while commending those states that had started paying, urged others to follow suit, stressing that the effectiveness of the fund would depend on collective commitment, consistency and a shared sense of urgency.

He said as the forum continued to deliberate on the fund’s operational framework, each state was required to nominate a trustee to the fund to strengthen oversight and internal governance.

On the planned state police, Mr Yahaya said that the forum had been at the forefront of the growing national conversation around its creation.

“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 commended President Bola Tinubu for his leadership and support toward advancing the state police reform.

He noted that Mr Tinubu’s commitment to working with the National Assembly to create the necessary constitutional framework for state policing in Nigeria was a significant step forward.

He said that the forum would continue to lend full support to this initiative as part of its broader strategy to secure the northern region.

Mr Yahaya urged the governors of the region to proactively address the recurring issue of farmer-herder conflicts, especially ahead of the rainy season.

He said that this had historically posed significant threats to peace and agricultural productivity in the region.

The governor commended the 19 northern state governors for their continued cooperation, solidarity and commitment to the ideals of the forum.

“Together, through patience, resilience, and collective effort, we shall overcome our challenges and build a stronger, safer and more prosperous Nigeria,” he said. 

(NAN)