Northern Governors Halt Mining, Back State Police, Approve ₦1bn Security Fund

Northern governors and traditional rulers have suspended all mining activities across the region for six months, warning that illegal mining has become one of the biggest drivers of insecurity in northern Nigeria. The decision was part of a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council (NTRC) held in Kaduna, with all 19 northern governors and traditional leaders in attendance. The meeting was chaired by Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who also heads the forum.

In the communiqué, the leaders described the security situation in the North as deeply troubling, citing persistent killings, abductions and community attacks in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, alongside renewed Boko Haram assaults in Borno and Yobe. They expressed condolences to the affected states and condemned the attacks on schoolchildren and residents as “unacceptable tragedies” requiring urgent and coordinated action.

The governors commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what they called the Federal Government’s firm response to insecurity, acknowledging in particular the rescue of kidnapped pupils and recent counter-insurgency operations. They also praised security agencies for their efforts and pledged full support for ongoing military operations aimed at dismantling insurgent enclaves.

A major outcome of the meeting was the forum’s renewed and unanimous support for the creation of state police, which it described as necessary to strengthen security at the grassroots. The governors urged northern federal lawmakers and state assemblies to expedite the constitutional amendments required to establish decentralised policing structures across the country.

On illegal mining, the forum said criminal networks were exploiting mining sites to fund armed groups and destabilise communities. It therefore recommended an immediate six-month suspension of all mining exploration to allow for a full audit and revalidation of mining licences, in collaboration with state governments. They argued that halting mining activities temporarily would help curb illicit revenue streams that have continued to fuel banditry and terrorism.

As part of wider security reforms, the governors also approved the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund to support joint operations and intelligence gathering. Under the arrangement, the 19 states and their local governments will contribute a combined ₦1 billion monthly, deducted at source, to finance coordinated security interventions across the region. The forum said the new funding structure would improve response capacity and enable long-term planning in the fight against violent groups.

The meeting ended with an appeal for unity and cooperation among northern leaders. The communiqué noted that only through collective action, peer review and strong intergovernmental collaboration could the region overcome its escalating security challenges. The forum said it would reconvene at a date to be announced.