Northern Governors Tap Ex-CDS, Ex-Defence Minister to Co-Chair New Security Trust Fund

The Northern States Governors’ Forum has officially inaugurated the Board of Trustees for the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund. This significant development saw the appointment of General Martin Luther Agwai (retd.), a former Chief of Defence Staff, and Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, who previously served as Minister of Defence and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, as co-chairmen of the newly established board. The formal launch took place on Wednesday at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna, during a meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, signaling a major step towards enhancing regional cooperation in the fight against insecurity.

The board comprises a distinguished group of retired military officers, former heads of security agencies, and senior public servants, all selected from the 19 northern states. Notable members include Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya (retd.), a former Chief of Army Staff, representing Sokoto State; former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, representing Jigawa State; and retired Air Vice Marshal Kabiru Aliyu, a former director at the Defence Headquarters, representing Taraba State.

Further appointments to the board include Professor Usman Tar, the Borno State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs; 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.

Other members joining 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, from Kano State.

Additionally, the board includes Muhammad Mujtaba Isa, former Head of Service for Zamfara State; retired Chief Superintendent of Customs, Alhaji Adamu Tanko Umar, from Nasarawa State; Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, former Head of Service for Kaduna State; and retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Sani Usman Mohammed, representing Bauchi State.

Completing the list of members are retired Major General Bello Sarkin Yaki, former Coordinator of the Counter Terrorism Centre in the Office of the National Security Adviser, representing Kebbi State; Boss Mustapha, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, from Adamawa State; Alhaji Falalu Bawale, the nominee from Katsina State; retired Brigadier General Ibrahim Bolakala Agbab, former Chief of Staff, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, representing Kwara State; retired Major General John Seyina Malu, former Chief of Defence Standards and Evaluation, representing Benue State; and former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, representing Yobe State.

The Board of Trustees is tasked with providing strategic oversight for the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund. This fund was established by the Northern States Governors’ Forum with the aim of mobilizing financial resources, strengthening intelligence collaboration, and supporting coordinated efforts to tackle prevalent security threats such as banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and cattle rustling across the region.

Reports indicate that this inauguration follows a resolution by the 19 northern governors to create the Trust Fund as a regional response to the escalating security challenges in the North. These challenges have seen communities suffer repeated attacks by bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers, resulting in thousands of deaths, mass displacement, destruction of livelihoods, and severe disruptions to agricultural activities.

During their meeting, the governors also committed that each of the 19 northern states, in partnership with their respective local governments, would contribute ₦1 billion monthly for a period of 12 months to finance the Trust Fund.

Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the Governor of Gombe State and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, clarified that this initiative is designed to complement, not replace, the efforts of the Federal Government and existing security agencies. He stressed that the fund would achieve this through improved intelligence sharing, strategic coordination, and sustainable funding. Governor Yahaya characterized the fund as “a focused, responsive and credible platform” for bolstering security operations across Northern Nigeria, emphasizing that its success would be measured by its tangible impact on protecting lives and property.

The region’s traditional rulers, led by His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, have endorsed the initiative and pledged their full support. They hailed the establishment of the Trust Fund as a much-needed and practical approach to effectively address the pervasive insecurity plaguing the region.