Amid rising security challenges, governors of the South-West yesterday reiterated that the creation of state police “can no longer be delayed,” as they unveiled a new regional security framework aimed at strengthening safety across the zone.
The governors met at the Executive Chamber of the Oyo State Governor’s Office in Ibadan, where they reviewed issues relating to security, economic development, agriculture and regional integration.
Present at the meeting were Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and the Osun State Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, who represented Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Reading the communiqué, forum chairman and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, praised President Bola Tinubu for ongoing national security interventions and expressed solidarity with the Federal Government over recent kidnapping incidents in Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states.
The communiqué stated that the forum applauded the swift rescue of abducted students in Niger State and victims of the Kwara incident. It also announced the establishment of a South-West Security Fund to be managed by the DAWN Commission and coordinated monthly by the security advisers of the six states.
The governors also agreed to develop a live digital intelligence-sharing platform to enable rapid exchange of threat alerts, incident reports, and emergency responses across the region.
They urged the Federal Government to prioritise enhanced surveillance of forest reserves, which they said have become major hideouts for criminal groups. The forum reaffirmed its commitment to reclaiming forest areas from bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements.
On migration, the governors raised concerns over unregulated interstate movement and illegal mining activities, saying both pose growing threats to safety and public health. They agreed to intensify joint efforts to prevent criminal infiltration and curb illegal mining operations.
Reiterating their long-standing position, the governors restated their support for state police, stressing that its establishment has become urgent.
The forum commended farmers in the region for increased agricultural output, noting that it has contributed to relative food price stability. It also praised the DAWN Commission for its work on regional integration, and reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining peace and religious tolerance across the South-West.
Ogun Orders Mandatory Registration of Foreign Nationals
Meanwhile, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has directed the compulsory documentation of all foreign nationals residing in the state as part of efforts to improve internal security.
Speaking after a security meeting at his Iperu residence, Abiodun said the exercise would strictly follow existing security and immigration protocols. He warned that no foreign resident or visitor would be allowed to operate in the state without proper identification.
He announced that the ZAGA settlement in Ijebu-Ode would be dismantled to prevent its use for criminal activities, adding that landlords harbouring criminals would be sanctioned.
Abiodun also disclosed plans to establish a Forward Operating Base in Ilara, a border community in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, to tighten security and monitor cross-border movements.
He said the state must remain proactive to maintain its status as one of the most peaceful in the country, adding: “The best time to prepare for war is during peace.”
