Bomba Dauda
The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has commended the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) for inaugurating the Board of Trustees of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund (NNSTF), describing the initiative as a landmark step towards tackling insecurity across the region.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Isaac Abrak, the group said the Trust Fund should become the financial backbone of the Federal Government’s Forest Guard Initiative and the proposed State Police system, arguing that both reforms are essential to strengthening grassroots security.
NCYP congratulated the Co-Chairmen of the Board of Trustees, former Minister of Defence Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed and former Chief of Defence Staff General Martin Luther Agwai (Rtd.), expressing confidence that their experience would help drive the initiative toward lasting peace and stability in Northern Nigeria.
The group also welcomed the commitment by the 19 Northern states to contribute ₦1 billion monthly each to the Trust Fund, noting that the arrangement could generate about ₦19 billion every month and approximately ₦228 billion annually for regional security.
According to NCYP, the success of the Fund should not be measured solely by the amount of money raised but by its impact in reclaiming forests from criminal groups, protecting communities, restoring public confidence and creating a secure environment for agriculture, commerce and investment.
The organisation said the establishment of the Trust Fund answers long-standing questions about what Northern leaders are doing collectively to address worsening insecurity and demonstrates a willingness to take greater ownership of regional security challenges.
It described the Forest Guard Initiative and the proposed State Police as complementary reforms capable of creating a modern, layered security architecture, with the Forest Guard focusing on securing forests and ungoverned spaces while State Police would strengthen community policing, intelligence gathering and rapid response.
NCYP urged the Trust Fund to establish dedicated intervention programmes to support recruitment, training, personnel welfare, operational vehicles, communications systems, surveillance technology and intelligence infrastructure for both the Forest Guard and future State Police formations.
The group also called for joint planning, intelligence sharing and regular training exercises among Northern states to ensure effective coordination between the Forest Guard, proposed State Police and existing federal security agencies.
“It is for this reason that NCYP firmly maintains that the security of Northern Nigeria is only as strong as the security of its weakest state,” the statement said, stressing that terrorists and bandits exploit security gaps across state boundaries.
NCYP commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for implementing the Forest Guard Initiative and praised Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for his advocacy for State Police and the state’s early implementation of the Forest Guard programme, including the training of pioneer recruits.
The group also lauded NSGF Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Northern governors, traditional rulers, eminent elders and members of the Board of Trustees for demonstrating collective leadership.
It urged the Board to uphold transparency, accountability, measurable outcomes and regional cooperation in managing the Trust Fund.
NCYP announced that it would soon release a comprehensive policy memorandum outlining detailed recommendations on how the Trust Fund can support the expansion of the Forest Guard, prepare for the establishment of State Police and strengthen an integrated grassroots security framework across Northern Nigeria.
