Nineteen northern state governors convened in Abuja for a meeting of the Northern States Governors' Forum, reaffirming their commitment to improving security and development across the region. Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who chairs the forum, said there had been some improvement in security since the group's last meeting in December 2025. He cautioned against complacency and urged sustained collaboration to counter emerging threats. Yahaya confirmed the proposed Northern States Security Trust Fund, with each state expected to contribute ₦1 billion monthly, would enhance regional security operations. He commended states already making payments and pushed others to comply promptly.
The governors agreed to jointly fund a permanent secretariat for the forum to boost coordination. They reiterated support for the creation of state police, citing the need for localized responses to security challenges. Addressing root causes, Yahaya highlighted poverty, unemployment, and rising numbers of out-of-school children as key concerns. The forum pledged cooperation with the Federal Government on livestock reforms and conflict prevention between farmers and herders ahead of the rainy season. A communiqué issued after the meeting emphasized unity among members, support for digital reforms, revenue generation initiatives, and ongoing energy projects. The governors called on Nigerians to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and security agencies in national safety efforts.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya is asking states to pay ₦1 billion each per month into a security fund while counting on unity—but past forums have made similar pledges with little visible outcome. If the same states that haven't paid are also behind on building schools or stopping banditry, then this round of promises may just be political theatre. Without public proof of accountability, the trust fund risks becoming another unmet line item in a budget of good intentions. For ordinary northerners, the real test isn't in Abuja communiqués but whether patrols increase and children return to classrooms.
