Northern Governors Launch 1bn Naira Monthly Security Fund

Northern state governors and traditional rulers formally launched a regional security trust fund on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, pledging a collective monthly contribution of one billion naira to combat escalating violence. The initiative, announced at a joint meeting in Kaduna, also saw the governors unanimously endorse the creation of state police as a critical reform.

The gathering of the Northern Nigeria Governors Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council established the Board of Trustees for the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund. The board is co-chaired by former Defence Minister Mahmud Yayale Ahmed and former Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (retd.), and includes numerous other retired senior military and police officers. Officials stated the fund is designed to mobilize resources, support security coordination, strengthen intelligence collaboration, and complement federal security operations.

Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said the worsening security situation required urgent and coordinated action beyond federal efforts. He explained that the trust fund followed resolutions from...