Manage security funds transparently to end northern suffering, insecurity – ACF tells governors
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has asked the 19 northern state governors to ensure the newly created Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund is managed professionally, transparently and without political interference.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees, Bashir Dalhatu, the forum praised the governors for setting up the fund, but stressed that transparency will determine its overall success. He insisted that for the long suffering northerners to enjoy peace, the governors must ignore politics and manage the funds transparently.
The statement said, “The Arewa Consultative Forum warmly welcomes and wholeheartedly commends the Forum of Northern States Governors on the establishment of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, a landmark initiative designed to mobilise additional resources in support of the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent criminality that have afflicted Northern Nigeria for far too long.”
The ACF said the security crisis in the North requires joint efforts and new ideas that will complement the work of the Federal Government and security agencies.
According to the forum, years of attacks by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers have forced many farmers off their land, disrupted businesses and slowed economic growth across the region.
It said, “The North, once renowned for its peaceful communities, thriving agriculture and vibrant commercial activities, today bears the scars of years of relentless violence inflicted by terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other armed criminal groups.”
The forum expressed confidence that, if properly managed and adequately funded, the trust fund would strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance, logistics, communications, technology, community security programmes and support for victims of insecurity.
The ACF also urged the governors to remain committed to the initiative and ensure the fund stays focused on restoring peace and security across the region.
It added, “The people of the region have endured crippling hardship for too long. They deserve to live in peace, cultivate their farms without fear, conduct their businesses safely and look to the future with genuine confidence and hope.”
The Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna during a meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum attended by governors, senior security officials, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
