by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Northern Traditional Council rose from its marathon joint meeting on Saturday, registering its support for creation of State Police, following escalating insecurity in the region.
“The Forum reiterated its support for the creation of the State Police and called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the enactment of the legal framework for its take-off,” its communiqué issued at the end of the meeting has declared.
The forum, in a communiqué presented by its chairman-cum Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, said it acknowledged the critical role of nonpartisan cooperation, collaboration, and peer review in effectively addressing the numerous developmental challenges confronting the northern region and the nation at large.
“After exhaustive deliberations on matters of regional interest, particularly security, the Forum released communiqué commending President Bola Tinubu for his sustainable commitment to addressing security challenges.
“The Forum commends Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his sustained commitment to addressing the security challenges and infrastructural deficits in Northern Nigeria.
“The Forum resolved to liaise with the Nigerian Governors Forum to work out modalities of how to increase support to the Federal Security Forces.
“The Forum also resolved to strengthen peculiar local initiatives in combating all forms of security challenges.
“The Forum also resolved to urgently set up inter-state platforms to coordinate surveillance on our joint borders,” it stated.
The meeting was attended by Governors of all 19 Northern States and their Royal Highnesses, the Chairmen of the 19 Northern States Traditional Rulers’ Councils. “Forum’s next meeting will hold on the 30th of August, 2025,” it added.
This is a significant step towards addressing the pressing issue of insecurity in the Northern region. The support for State Police is commendable, as it could bring security closer to the people. However, I wonder how the implementation will ensure accountability and prevent misuse of power. The collaboration between the NSGF and the Traditional Council is promising, but will it translate into tangible results? The commendation of President Tinubu is notable, but what specific measures has he taken to address these challenges? The focus on inter-state platforms for border surveillance is crucial, but how will it be funded and sustained? Overall, this seems like a positive move, but the devil is in the details—how do you plan to ensure these resolutions are effectively executed?