Northern governors and traditional rulers on Monday called for the suspension of mining activities across the region for six months, citing illegal mining as a major driver of insecurity.
The call was part of a communiqué issued at the end of a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council (NTRC), held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The meeting, chaired by the Governor of Gombe State and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, was attended by all 19 northern governors and chairmen of the traditional councils from the 19 states.
The communiqué expressed concern over rising insecurity in parts of the North, including recent killings and abductions reported in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.
“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” it stated. It added that the attacks on schoolchildren and other residents were “unacceptable tragedies” requiring urgent collective action.
The Forum commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, particularly the rescue of some abducted pupils. It also applauded security agencies for their sacrifices.
“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the governors said.
A major resolution from the meeting was renewed support for the establishment of state police. The Forum said decentralised policing had become necessary to strengthen security efforts.
“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué said, urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to expedite action.
On illegal mining, the governors said the activity had become a major contributor to insecurity by providing revenue streams for criminal networks.
“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria,” it stated. “We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining.”
To support regional security operations, the Forum also announced plans to establish a Security Trust Fund. Under the proposal, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1 billion monthly, to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.
According to the communiqué, the fund would provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated responses across the region.
The meeting reaffirmed the governors’ commitment to unity and collective action in addressing challenges facing the North.
“Only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” it said.
The Forum resolved to reconvene on a date to be communicated later.
