Northern Govs Commit N500m each for Construction of Forum’s Secretariat

The Northern States Governors' Forum (NSGF) has agreed to contribute N500 million each towards the construction of a permanent secretariat for the forum. The announcement was made by the Chairman of the NSGF, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, during a meeting in Abuja on Monday. The meeting was marked by a sense of optimism, with the chairman acknowledging improvements in the security situation in the region since their last meeting in December 2025.

Governor Yahaya attributed the progress to coordinated actions by state governments, backed by the Federal Government. He stressed that the region must not relent in its efforts to tackle insecurity, warning that recent gains could be reversed without continued vigilance. The chairman also highlighted the importance of addressing emerging threats and ensuring lasting peace across the region. He noted that the protection of lives and property must remain a top priority.

The NSGF chairman also spoke about the ongoing efforts to strengthen the institutional framework of the forum, which he said were yielding results. He described the forum's decision to establish a Northern States Security Trust Fund as a critical step towards addressing Nigeria's complex security challenges. The fund, which requires each state to contribute N1 billion monthly, has already seen some states, including Gombe, Nasarawa, Borno, Kebbi and Kaduna, commence payments.

Governor Yahaya commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and commitment to the initiative in collaboration with the National Assembly. He also linked insecurity to socio-economic challenges such as poverty, unemployment and illiteracy, calling for greater investment in education and human capital development. The chairman warned that the growing number of out-of-school children in the region poses a serious threat to long-term stability.