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The Middle Belt Awareness Forum (MBAF) has issued a blistering 24-point interrogation of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), warning that Nigerians can no longer tolerate communiqués that read well on paper but die quietly in the drawers of state offices while insecurity worsens across the region.

In a strongly worded statement by its convener, media consultant Abraham Maina Joda, the Forum challenged Northern governors to demonstrate sincerity, measurable commitment, and political courage in implementing the security resolutions announced in their latest communiqué.

Joda said the governors must face the hard truth: for over a decade, Northern Nigeria has been drowning in banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, illegal mining, and rural violence—yet communiqué after communiqué has provided more grammar than governance.

“Show us what you have implemented before,” MBAF demands

MBAF’s first salvo questioned the governors’ credibility, pointing out that the new resolutions resemble earlier ones that never left the drawing board. The group demanded a full implementation report, asking:

• Which past resolutions have been executed?
• What bottlenecks frustrated previous commitments?
• What new systems guarantee this communiqué will not share the same fate?

The Forum insisted that citizens deserve a public monitoring and evaluation framework—not vague assurances.

Political will: A major theme

MBAF also questioned whether Northern governors possess the political backbone to implement state policing, harmonize political interests, and drive unified reforms across all 19 states.

According to Joda, governors must demonstrate their willingness through concrete legislative, administrative, and financial actions rather than hiding behind generic calls to the National Assembly.

The ₦1 Billion Regional Security Fund: A potential game-changer or another slush pool?

The Forum raised serious concerns about the proposed ₦1 billion monthly Regional Security Trust Fund, warning that without stringent oversight, it could become another dark pit for political patronage and opaque security spending.

MBAF demanded:

• A credible governance structure led by independent experts
• Strict safeguards against diversion, ransom payments, or off-the-books negotiations
• Quarterly public disclosures of spending, procurement, and project outcomes

“Without transparency, this fund risks becoming the latest version of the security vote; unquestioned, unaccounted for, and unproductive,” Joda warned.

Community-level security must not be sidelined

MBAF emphasized that insecurity begins at the grassroots, and any serious intervention must empower local governments, traditional institutions, and vigilante networks.

The Forum asked whether the new fund will trickle down to local communities and how it will strengthen early-warning systems and intelligence gathering.

Illegal mining suspension: Reform or redistribution?

On the six-month suspension of mining activities, MBAF called for vigilance to prevent powerful interests from manipulating the process. The group wants the audit findings made public and enforcement mechanisms clearly defined.

Regional security architecture: Still fuzzy

While the communiqué announced a new regional approach, MBAF noted the absence of clarity.

The group pressed governors to explain:

• The structure of the proposed Northern Regional Security Network
• Whether it will operate like Amotekun or remain merely a funding structure
• The recruitment, training, command, and engagement rules
• The timeline and milestones for operational rollout

Transparency: The minimum requirement

The Forum concluded its 24-point inquiry by demanding quarterly public briefings, open verification of the Security Trust Fund by journalists and civil society, and clear reflection of monthly contributions in state financial records.

“This is a defining moment for Northern leadership” — MBAF

According to Joda, the North is at a crossroads. The region cannot afford another communiqué full of lofty words but empty outcomes.

“Let this communiqué be remembered not for its language, but for the results it delivers,” he declared.

“Our people have suffered enough. What Northern Nigeria needs now is action—consistent, transparent, and accountable.”

With insecurity still ravaging communities and public confidence in leadership at historic lows, Joda said the Northern Governors’ Forum must now prove it is ready to embrace a new era of responsibility and measurable governance.