Northern Nigeria Governors Launch ₦1bn‑Monthly Security Trust Fund

Nineteen governors of Nigeria's northern states gathered in Kaduna to inaugurate the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund (NNSTF). The forum resolved that each state, together with its local governments, will contribute ₦1 billion per month for twelve months, creating a pooled financial resource to combat banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, drug abuse and other criminal threats across the region.

The trustees, drawn from former defence, police and security officials, will oversee the fund’s use for intelligence sharing, rapid response coordination and support of federal security operations. Governors also voiced support for the creation of State Police as a reform to strengthen local law‑enforcement capacity. They urged prompt fulfilment of pledges, warned the fund must not become bureaucratic, and highlighted the need to address root causes of insecurity such as poverty, unemployment and lack of education. The initiative was praised by President Bola Tinubu and framed as complementary to national security efforts.