The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has inaugurated the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund (NNSTF) and appointed former Minister of Defence, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, and former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), as co-chairmen of its Board of Trustees.
Other members of the Board include former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Umar Farouk Yahaya (retd.); retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa (Jigawa); retired Air Vice Marshal Kabiru Aliyu (Taraba); Prof. Usman Tar, Borno State Commissioner for Security; Senator Air Vice-Marshal Napoleon Bali (rtd) from Plateau; and retired Maj.-Gen. A.M. Dikko, former National Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Also appointed are retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Sunday Babaji (Gombe); retired Air Vice-Marshal Farouk Omeiza Umar (Kogi); retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Sani (Kano); former Zamfara State Head of Service, Muhammad Mujtaba Isa; retired Chief Superintendent of Customs, Alhaji Adamu Tanko Umar (Nasarawa); former Kaduna State Head of Service, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha; retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Sani Usman Mohammed (Bauchi); retired Maj.-Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaƙi (Kebbi); former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha (Adamawa); Alhaji Falalu Bawale (Katsina); retired Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Bolakala Agbab (Kwara); retired Maj.-Gen. John Seyina Malu (Benue); and former Inspector-General of Police Usman Alƙali Baba (Yobe)
Speaking at the inauguration in Kaduna, Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said the establishment of the Trust Fund was a major step towards addressing the region’s security challenges through a coordinated and sustainable approach.
He recalled that at the Forum’s meetings held on December 2, 2025, in Kaduna and March 30, 2026, in Abuja, governors agreed that the worsening security situation in Northern Nigeria required urgent, coordinated and decisive action.
According to him, the inauguration of the Board of Trustees marks the first major step towards implementing the Forum’s commitment to tackling insecurity in a more organised, accountable and sustainable manner. Yahaya said members of the Board were carefully selected by the 19 Northern state governments based on their distinguished records of public service.
While acknowledging that the Federal Government has the primary responsibility for national security, Yahaya said the 19 Northern states have a complementary role in supporting federal security efforts, promoting intelligence sharing, strengthening community resilience and creating a framework for lasting peace and prosperity.
He explained that the Security Trust Fund was established to mobilise resources, support security coordination, strengthen intelligence collaboration and complement the efforts of federal security agencies.
Earlier, Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani reaffirmed the region’s commitment to working with the Federal Government to promote security, development and national unity.
