The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has announced the creation of a regional security trust fund under which the 19 northern states and their LGAs will contribute a combined N1 billion monthly.

According to the forum, the fund is to be deducted at source to confront the escalating banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping ravaging the region.

The decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a crucial joint meeting between the governors and members of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council (NTRC) in Kaduna on Monday.

The communiqué, signed by Inuwa Yahaya, the NSGF chairman and governor of Gombe, said the fund was necessary “in order to effectively confront the security crises in the north.”

“In order to effectively confront the security crises in the North, the forum resolved to set up a regional Security Trust Fund to be funded with monthly contributions of one billion naira from each state and local government to be deducted at source under a framework to be agreed upon,” the statement reads.

The governors called on President Bola Tinubu to direct Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, to immediately suspend all mining activities in the region for six months to enable a comprehensive audit and revalidation of licenses.

They described illegal mining as “a major contributory factor” to the security crisis, accusing artisanal miners and their sponsors of funding banditry and terrorism.

The governors commended Tinubu “for leaving no stone unturned” in securing the release of some abducted schoolchildren and praised the sacrifices of security operatives battling insurgents across the country.

They reaffirmed their “wholehearted support” for the creation of state police and urged northern federal and state lawmakers to fast-track the required constitutional amendments.

“Accordingly, the forum encourages National and State Assembly Members in the region to expedite action for its actualisation,” the governors said.

“The forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria; the forum therefore resolved to strongly recommend to the President to direct the Hon. Minister of Solid Minerals to suspend mining exploration for a period of six months to allow proper audit.

“Subject all mining licenses to revalidation for a period of six months in active consultation with the various state governors and, in the process, arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining.”

Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, citing persistent leadership turmoil at the party’s national level.

In a statement shared on his Instagram page on Monday night, Adeleke confirmed that he submitted his resignation to party officials in Sagba Abogunde, Ward 2, Ede North Local Government, on November 4, 2025.

He stated, “Due to the ongoing crisis within the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (#OfficialPDPNig) at the national level, I officially conveyed my resignation letter as a member to the party leadership in Sagba Abogunde, Ward 2, Ede North Local Government on November 4, 2025.

“I thank the party and its many members and supporters for the opportunities they have provided me, first as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and now as Governor of Osun State.”

Earlier reports from the PDP state chapter indicated that Adeleke was unlikely to seek the party’s nomination for the 2026 governorship election unless the internal conflicts were resolved.

The leadership had expressed hope that a resolution, recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, could persuade him otherwise.

Recall that we had previously reported that the PDP leadership in Osun State suggested Governor Adeleke might no longer be interested in seeking the party’s nomination for the 2026 governorship election.

However, the party stated that Adeleke’s decision could change if the crises affecting the party are resolved and recognised by INEC within the commission’s timeline for the Osun governorship poll.

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned from his position, citing health reasons.

The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development in a statement released on Monday.

In the letter, Badaru cited poor health as the reason for stepping down. President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and expressed gratitude for the minister’s service to the nation.

More details later…