Twelve Governors were absent at the Northern States Governor’s meeting held in Kaduna, with only the governors of Gombe State, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, and Bauchi State in attendance.
The remaining governors were represented by their deputies and secretaries of their respective state governments. This absence comes after the Northern Governors’ recent visit to Washington D.C., where they discussed strategies to combat insecurity in the region.
During the meeting, Chairman of the Northern States Governor’s Forum (NSGF), Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, expressed solidarity with the people of Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, and Zamfara States, who are facing severe security challenges. He emphasized the importance of unity among the northern states in tackling these challenges, reaffirming their commitment to working with the federal government to find lasting solutions.
Regarding the issue of state police, the Chairman emphasized the need for cooperation and collaboration among northern states in exploring state policing models. He also stressed the importance of economic development in addressing security challenges, highlighting the revitalization of the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) as a key economic agenda for the region.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, the host of the meeting, highlighted the progress made in degrading criminal elements in the region. He praised the Federal Government’s commitment to combating terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality, and called for new strategies to further push back against these threats to development.
