Declare support for state police
Eshiorameh Sebastian in Abuja
Governors of South West region have unveiled a sweeping new security architecture, establishing a regional Security Fund, a digital intelligence sharing hub, and stringent border monitoring measures.
This is even as they declared support for the establishment of state police across the country to help curb the spate of insecurity in the country.
The emergency meeting, held in Ibadan on Monday and attended by the governors of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Osun states, resulted in a ten point resolution aimed at fortifying the region against threats of kidnapping, banditry, and unregulated migration.
This move comes amid a rising spate of insecurity and violent crime across the country, particularly the epidemic of kidnapping and banditry in the northern states, which has shown alarming signs of spreading southward and deepening fears of a national crisis.
Reading the communiqué, Lagos State Governor and Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced the creation of the South West Security Fund (SWSF).
The fund will be domiciled under the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and administered by the Forum of Special Advisers on Security, who are now mandated to meet monthly to coordinate and finance regional security interventions.
A cornerstone of the new strategy is the approval of a digital, real-time intelligence sharing platform. This system is designed to seamlessly connect all six states, enabling the immediate exchange of threat notifications, incident logs, and alerts on suspicious travellers and cargo.
The platform is expected to facilitate coordinated, state-to-state rapid response to security incidents, effectively creating a unified digital command centre.
Further tightening the region’s security apparatus, the governors raised an alarm over “unregulated interstate migration,” declaring a move towards stricter border monitoring. This initiative will include the collection of biometric data and improved collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to track movement in and out of the region.
Reiterating a long standing demand, the forum declared support for the establishment of state police, with Governor Sanwo-Olu stating emphatically, “The time is now. It can no longer be delayed.” This positions the region at the forefront of the national debate on policing and security restructuring.
The governors also looked inwards, commending the efforts of the Amotekun Corps, hunters’ groups, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
However, they issued a direct appeal to the Federal Government for urgent reinforcement of the region’s vast forest belts, which have become hideouts for criminal elements.
“The Federal Government should help deploy Forest Guards across the South West states,” the communiqué stated, noting that the states themselves would provide the necessary personnel. The governors reaffirmed a “collective commitment to reclaiming the forests from criminals.”
Amidst the focus on security, the forum also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his economic reforms and efforts towards achieving food sufficiency. They specifically praised farmers in the region for increased production, which they credited for “the subsequent stability and reduction in food prices.”
The governors also expressed solidarity with the Federal Government over recent kidnappings in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger States, praising the “swift response” that led to rescues.
The meeting, which saw Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State join his colleagues, signals a significant escalation in regional cooperation.
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