Governors of the 19 northern states, under the aegis of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), have reaffirmed their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while calling for stronger security reforms to address the growing threats of banditry and insurgency in the region.
The resolution followed a meeting held on Monday at the Gombe State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja. The forum was chaired by Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya, who signed the communiqué issued at the end of the deliberations.
In the communiqué, the governors pledged continued collaboration with the Federal Government and security agencies to tackle evolving security challenges. They stressed the need for collective national support in restoring peace and stability across the country.
“The Forum acknowledges and commends the unified efforts of member states in addressing the numerous security and developmental challenges facing the region, noting that these efforts are already producing positive outcomes,” the statement read.
“Furthermore, the Forum reaffirms its resolute commitment to maintaining and enhancing these collaborative actions in order to build upon the progress achieved.”
The governors also urged Nigerians to back the armed forces and other security agencies as they work to curb the wave of violence affecting several communities.
Their renewed call for security reforms comes on the heels of deadly attacks in the region. In Kaduna State, armed bandits disrupted a wedding celebration in Kahir village, Kagarko Local Government Area, on Sunday, leaving at least 13 people dead and several others abducted. Similarly, in Plateau State, a shooting incident in Anguwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, reportedly left scores dead.
Beyond security, the forum also addressed economic matters, announcing plans to engage consultants to explore ways of improving internally generated revenue (IGR) across the region by identifying and harnessing untapped taxable sources.
The governors further resolved to sustain engagement with the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer to facilitate the establishment of the New Nigeria Energy Company (NNEC) under the Sun Africa Project.
In addition, the forum announced support for the digitisation of its secretariat to enhance coordination and policy implementation capacity.
The meeting was adjourned to a later date.
President Tinubu’s administration has consistently prioritised security sector reforms and economic revitalisation, including initiatives aimed at boosting energy capacity and improving revenue generation at both federal and state levels.
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