Northern governors and traditional rulers have agreed to suspend all mining activities across the region for six months, citing illegal mining as a growing driver of insecurity.
This was one of the major resolutions in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council (NTRC) in Kaduna.
The meeting, chaired by Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, was attended by all 19 northern governors and top traditional leaders
According to the communiqué, the North is battling worsening insecurity, including killings and abductions in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram activities in Borno and Yobe.
“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué stated, describing the attacks on schoolchildren and other residents as “unacceptable tragedies” that demand urgent intervention.
The governors commended President Bola Tinubu for what they described as decisive actions against kidnappings and insurgency, especially the rescue of abducted pupils. They also praised security agencies for their continued efforts.
“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,” they said.
A key outcome of the meeting was the renewed push for the establishment of state police.
The Forum reaffirmed its “wholehearted support and commitment” to decentralised policing and urged northern federal and state lawmakers to speed up action on the matter.
On illegal mining, the governors noted that criminal groups now exploit mining sites to fund their activities.
“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria. We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining,” the communiqué added.
To bolster regional security, the governors also announced plans to set up a Security Trust Fund. Under the arrangement, each state and its local governments will contribute N1 billion monthly, deducted at source, to support joint operations, intelligence gathering, and coordinated security responses.
The meeting ended with a call for unity among northern leaders and the Forum emphasizing that only through cooperation, peer review, and collective action can the region overcome its growing challenges.
The Forum will reconvene on a date to be announced later.
