The Northern Governors’ Forum and the Traditional Rulers’ Council have demanded that all mining activities in the area be suspended for six months, citing illegal mining as a major cause of the region’s worsening insecurity.
In order to address the region’s security crises, the leaders of the North also agreed to establish a regional security trust fund.
Each state and its local governments will contribute N1 billion each month, which will be deducted at source under a contract.
The governors stated in a communiqué released following the joint meeting with traditional rulers in Kaduna on Monday that the security trust fund would support coordinated security responses, intelligence-driven interventions, and sustained funding for joint operations.
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The Forum noted that Northern Nigeria’s security crises have largely been brought on by illegal mining. Therefore, the Forum firmly advised the President to direct the Hon. To allow for a proper audit, the Minister of Solid Minerals has requested that all mining licenses be revalidated for six months in active consultation with the various state governors, and to help in the process, reduce the threat of artisanal illegal mining.
The Forum decided to establish a regional Security Trust Fund in order to combat the security crises in the North, which would be funded by a one billion naira contribution from each state and local government, and would be deducted at source under a formula that would be agreed upon.
Following the recent murders and kidnappings of schoolchildren and other innocent citizens, as well as the victims of the Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe States, The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and the good people of Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Kano States.
The Forum praises the Federal Government for making no mistake about ensuring the immediate release of some of the kidnapped children and dealing with other security issues under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Our uniformed service members who continue to fight various forms of violent insurgencies throughout the nation deserve praise as well.
Source: Channels TV
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