ACF urges northern governors to manage new security fund transparently to end northern insecurity
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) urged Nigeria's 19 northern state governors to manage the newly created Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund with transparency and without political interference. Speaking through Board Chairman Bashir Dalhatu in a statement issued Friday, July 10, ACF praised the governors for establishing the fund during Tuesday's inauguration at Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna, attended by governors, security officials and traditional rulers.
ACF stressed that transparency will determine the fund's success in ending years of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping that have forced farmers from their land, disrupted businesses and slowed economic growth across the North. The forum noted the region, once known for peaceful communities and thriving agriculture, now suffers from relentless violence by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.
If properly managed and funded, ACF said the trust fund could strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance, logistics, communications, technology, community security programmes and victim support. The group urged governors to remain committed to restoring peace so northerners can farm without fear, conduct business safely and look to the future with hope.
Will northerners see tangible security improvements if governors keep the fund free from political interference, or will politics undermine this peace effort?