NORTHERN GOVS APPOINT EX-CDS, EX-DEFENCE MINISTER TO LEAD SECURITY TRUST FUND
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
The Northern States Governors’ Forum has inaugurated the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, appointing former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (retd.), and former Minister of Defence and ex-Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, as co-chairmen.
The inauguration took place on Wednesday at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna during a meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum as part of efforts to strengthen regional collaboration in addressing insecurity.
The board comprises retired military officers, former heads of security agencies and senior public servants drawn from the 19 northern states.
Among the members are former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya (retd.), representing Sokoto State; former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, representing Jigawa State; and retired Air Vice Marshal Kabiru Aliyu, a former Defence Headquarters director, representing Taraba State.
Other appointees include Borno State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Prof. Usman Tar; Senator Napoleon Bali, a retired Air Vice Marshal representing Plateau State; and retired Major General A. M. Dikko, former National Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, representing Niger State.
Also serving on the board are retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Sunday Babaji from Gombe State; retired Air Vice Marshal Farouk Omeiza Umar, former Chief of Policy and Plans at the Defence Headquarters, representing Kogi State; and retired Major General Muhammad Sani, former Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation, representing Kano State.
Other members include former Zamfara State Head of Service Muhammad Mujtaba Isa; retired Chief Superintendent of Customs, Alhaji Adamu Tanko Umar, representing Nasarawa State; former Kaduna State Head of Service, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha; and retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Sani Usman Mohammed, representing Bauchi State.
The board also features retired Major General Bello Sarkin Yaki, former Coordinator of the Counter Terrorism Centre in the Office of the National Security Adviser, representing Kebbi State; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, representing Adamawa State; Katsina State nominee, Alhaji Falalu Bawale; retired Brigadier General Ibrahim Bolakala Agbab, representing Kwara State; retired Major General John Seyina Malu, representing Benue State; and former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, representing Yobe State.
The Board of Trustees will provide strategic oversight for the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, established by the Northern States Governors’ Forum to mobilise resources, strengthen intelligence sharing and support coordinated efforts to combat banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other security threats across the region.
The inauguration followed the decision of the 19 northern governors to establish the fund as a regional response to the worsening security situation in Northern Nigeria, where repeated attacks by bandits and terrorists have resulted in deaths, displacement, destruction of livelihoods and disruption of farming activities.
The governors also resolved that each of the 19 northern states, in collaboration with their local governments, would contribute ₦1 billion monthly for 12 months to finance the Trust Fund.
Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said the initiative was designed to complement the efforts of the Federal Government and security agencies through improved intelligence sharing, strategic coordination and sustainable funding.
He described the Trust Fund as a focused and credible platform for supporting security operations across Northern Nigeria, expressing confidence that its success would be measured by its ability to improve the protection of lives and property.
Traditional rulers, led by the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, endorsed the initiative and pledged their support, describing the establishment of the Trust Fund as a practical and long-overdue step towards tackling insecurity in the region.
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