IBADAN — With insecurity escalating across the country, governors of the South-West region have reiterated that creating State Police is now an urgent necessity. The six governors also unveiled a strengthened regional security framework aimed at safeguarding residents and boosting intelligence sharing.
The governors reached the decision during a closed-door meeting held at the Executive Chamber of the Oyo State Governor’s Office in Ibadan. The session focused on security, economic growth, agriculture, and regional cooperation.
In attendance were Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Osun deputy governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, who represented Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Reading the communique, Forum Chairman and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended President Bola Tinubu’s efforts on national security and recent rescue operations across states affected by kidnappings, including Kebbi, Kwara and Niger.
The Forum stated:
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A South-West Security Fund (SWSF) will be created under the DAWN Commission and managed by the security advisers of all six states.
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A real-time digital intelligence-sharing network will be launched to share threat alerts, incident records, and coordinate rapid response across the region.
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The Federal Government must intensify forest monitoring to flush out criminals using the region’s large forest areas as hideouts.
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The governors remain fully committed to reclaiming these forests from bandits and kidnappers.
The Forum also raised concerns about unregulated interstate migration, saying it poses increasing security challenges. It called for tighter border checks to prevent migration from being exploited by criminals.
Illegal mining was also highlighted as a growing threat to public safety and the environment. The Forum stressed again that State Police can no longer be delayed, insisting that local policing will significantly improve security.
The governors further commended the Federal Government’s agricultural interventions and praised farmers for improved food production, which has helped stabilise prices in the region. They also applauded the DAWN Commission for driving regional unity and security coordination.
Ogun State Orders Mandatory Documentation of Foreigners
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has introduced stricter measures to strengthen security by ordering all foreign nationals in the state to undergo compulsory registration.
Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the directive after a security meeting at his residence in Iperu. He emphasized that anyone residing or operating within Ogun must have proper identification and be captured under existing security protocols.
He warned t
hat places harbouring undocumented immigrants or criminal elements — including the ZAGA settlement in Ijebu-Ode — will be dismantled. Landlords renting to suspicious individuals will face strict sanctions.
Abiodun added that Ogun, as Nigeria’s industrial hub and gateway to the Southwest, must remain proactive in safeguarding its borders. To this end, the government will prioritize establishing a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Ilara, a critical border community in Imeko/Afon, to reinforce border control and security surveillance.
