Northern Governors, Traditional Rulers’ Kaduna Summit: Full Inside Account

Key points:

• 19 Governors pledge ₦1bn monthly each to new Security Trust Fund
• Immediate 6-month nationwide mining suspension demanded
• Full-throated push for State Police as “non-negotiable”
• Urgent Almajiri reform

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a landmark show of unity rarely seen in recent years, the 19 governors of Northern Nigeria, alongside the region’s most powerful traditional rulers, concluded a high-stakes closed-door summit in Kaduna on Monday with a series of far-reaching decisions aimed at tackling the region’s worsening security crisis head-on.

Hosted by Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani and chaired by his Gombe State counterpart, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, the meeting brought together the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III.

Northern Traditional Rulers: HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II,  Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III others

After nine gruelling hours behind closed doors at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday, December 1, 2025, Northern Nigeria’s political and traditional elite emerged with what many are already calling the region’s most decisive anti-insecurity blueprint in over a decade: a 12-point communiqué that wasted no words: “the North is fighting for survival, and business as usual is over.”

₦1 billion monthly from every northern state – no excuses

For the first time, the 19 northern governors committed themselves and their local governments to paying ₦1 billion every month into a new Northern Regional Security Trust Fund. The money will be deducted at source from FAAC allocations, meaning no governor can quietly back out later.

The fund, to be managed jointly by the governors and traditional rulers, will bankroll intelligence networks, drones, armoured vehicles, rapid-response units and community vigilante support across the region. Framework documents are expected before Christmas.

We cannot fight bandits while we are indirectly arming them through porous mining sites

Six-month total shutdown of mining activities “immediately”

The loudest applause in the hall reportedly came when the governors agreed to demand an immediate six-month nationwide suspension of all mining licences – both industrial and artisanal.

The governors want President Bola Tinubu to declare the moratorium to allow for a comprehensive audit of mining licences and operations.

Illegal mining, particularly in Zamfara, Niger, Kebbi and Katsina, has long been identified as a major funding source for armed bandits and terrorist groups, buying AK-47s, RPGs and motorcycles.

“We cannot fight bandits while we are indirectly arming them through porous mining sites,” one governor reportedly told the closed session.

Iligal Mining site in Zamfara state

The resolution has already been transmitted to President Bola Tinubu, with governors asking the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, to begin immediate revalidation of every single licence in the country.

The summit directed its legal committee to forward the recommendation to the President and the National Assembly within 48 hours.

State Police Declared “Non-Negotiable”

The governors threw their full weight behind the creation of state police, describing it as “no longer negotiable” in the face of escalating violence. In a strongly worded communiqué, the forum urged the National Assembly to expedite the constitutional amendment process and called on southern governors to join the push for true fiscal and security federalism.

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, the host, was blunt: “A centralised police system cannot police 923,768 square kilometres with 120 million people. It has collapsed.”

The Sultan of Sokoto, who spoke passionately on the issue, reportedly reminded the gathering that “security is local” and that traditional institutions stand ready to support properly structured state and community policing systems.

A centralised police system cannot police 923,768 square kilometres with 120 million people.

Almajiri reform finally treated as a security emergency

For the first time in years, the sensitive issue of Almajiri education took centre stage. The governors and emirs agreed on the “urgent need for comprehensive reform” of the centuries-old system, acknowledging that thousands of out-of-school children remain a ready recruitment pool for criminal gangs and insurgents.

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, reportedly spoke for nearly 20 minutes on the streets filled with millions of out-of-school children.

A technical committee chaired by Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf was immediately set up to develop a new framework that integrates Quranic education with basic Western education, skills acquisition and child protection safeguards.

Picture showing poor Almajiris scrambling for food in northern Nigeria.

Commendations, Condolences and a United Front

The summit praised President Tinubu for recent successful rescue operations – including the freeing of kidnapped Kuriga schoolchildren and other victims – and for sustaining military pressure on terrorist enclaves.

The governors also paid glowing tributes to the sacrifices of security forces, with several traditional rulers visibly emotional while recounting losses in their domains.

Deep condolences were extended to grieving communities in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, Borno and Yobe states following a string of deadly attacks in recent weeks.

In a closing remark that drew prolonged applause, the Sultan of Sokoto declared: “The North is one family. When one part hurts, we all bleed. Today, we have chosen to stand together, act together and win together.”

Northern Governors: From left — Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya; Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani; Niger State Governor, Umar Bago; and others.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya, the NSGF chairman, summed it up in his closing remarks:

“We have had too many meetings that ended with beautiful communiqués gathering dust. This one will be different or there may be no North left to govern.”

Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris called it “the day the North finally woke up.”

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