Northern governors have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order a six-month suspension of mining activities across the region to allow for a comprehensive audit, saying illegal mining has become a major driver of insecurity in the North.
The call was part of a wide-ranging communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council held on Monday in Kaduna. The communiqué was read by the Forum’s Chairman and Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
According to the governors, illegal mining has fueled violence, armed groups, and communal crises, making it necessary for the Federal Government to pause all exploration activities until a proper review is carried out in consultation with state governments.
They also announced the creation of a Regional Security Trust Fund, to be financed with N1 billion monthly contributions from states and local governments, deducted at source under an agreed framework. The fund will support coordinated security operations across the North.
The Forum commiserated with states recently hit by killings and mass abductions Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano as well as victims of Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe. They praised President Tinubu for efforts that led to the rescue of some abducted schoolchildren and acknowledged the sacrifices of security operatives battling insurgency.
Reaffirming their support for President Tinubu’s security initiatives, the governors pledged to back every “decisive step” aimed at crushing terrorist and criminal networks across the region.
Governors Reiterate Full Support for State Police
In a strong and unified stance, the Northern Governors’ Forum restated its full commitment to the establishment of state police arguing it is vital for tackling the North’s rapidly deteriorating security situation.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya, speaking at the meeting, commended President Tinubu for urging the National Assembly to fast-track the constitutional amendments needed to make state policing a reality.
He warned that insecurity in the North is no longer isolated but has escalated into “a national and existential threat,” pointing to recent mass kidnappings in several states and resurging Boko Haram attacks.
Yahaya cautioned that terrorists are deliberately targeting schools and farms to cripple the region’s future, emphasising that political, religious, and ethnic divisions must be rejected.
“Without peace and security, there will be no politics to play and no state or country to govern,” he said, urging leaders to close ranks and resist divisive narratives.
He also called for urgent action to reduce the number of out-of-school children, stressing that the North must “move beyond rhetoric” to prepare young people for productive futures. Traditional rulers were encouraged to act as stabilisers and moral guides, while religious leaders were urged to preach peace and tolerance.
Security agencies were advised to maintain vigilance, and the judiciary was encouraged to speed up the handling of criminal cases.
The Forum pledged to work closely with the Federal Government to “turn the tide” and ensure lasting peace, with Governor Yahaya declaring that future generations will judge today’s leaders by their success in restoring stability not by infrastructure projects.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, host of the meeting, noted that the North faces intertwined economic, social and security pressures that require collective, innovative solutions.
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, commended the governors for their renewed commitment, assuring them of the support of the region’s traditional and religious institutions.
The meeting was attended by governors from Kaduna, Niger, Gombe, Kebbi, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Zamfara, Yobe and others.
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