Northern Nigerian governors and traditional rulers have called for a six-month suspension of mining activities and the creation of a ₦1 billion monthly regional security fund to confront rising insecurity across the North.
The resolutions followed an emergency joint meeting on Monday at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, where leaders warned that banditry, terrorism, and illegal mining are pushing the region toward deeper instability.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the Northern Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council said illegal mining has become a major source of financing for criminal groups.
They urged President Bola Tinubu to order the Solid Minerals Ministry to halt all mining operations and revalidate existing licences in consultation with state governments.
The leaders also approved the establishment of a Northern Regional Security Trust Fund, with each of the 19 states and their local governments contributing ₦1 billion monthly, deducted at source. The framework for the fund is expected to be finalised soon.
They reaffirmed full support for the creation of state police and appealed to northern federal and state lawmakers to accelerate constitutional amendments needed to make it operational.
The communiqué commended Tinubu for recent counterterrorism efforts, including the rescue of abducted schoolchildren, and pledged continued support for military operations targeting insurgent camps.
Condolences were extended to Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, Borno, and Yobe states over recent killings, kidnappings, and Boko Haram attacks.
The leaders said another joint meeting will be held soon to review progress on the resolutions.
