Governors of the South West states of Nigeria rose from a meeting held in Ibadan on Monday with the decision to set up a South West Regional Security Fund, SWSF, as one of the steps to tackle the growing state of insecurity in the country.
The decision is contained in a communique issued at the end of their meeting.
The governors who operate under the aegis of the South West Governors’ Forum are those of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo states.
The fund, it was agreed would be under the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN, Commission and to be administered by Forum of Special Advisers on Security of all South West States and which would meet monthly.
Further, the governors agreed to set up a Joint Security Intelligence Sharing and Communication Platform.
According to them, the forum will also establish a live, digital intelligence-sharing platform among all six South West states (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti).
With that, they said, they would exchange threat notifications, incident logs, traveller and cargo alerts and coordinate state-to- state rapid response.
The governors also expressed the need for an enhanced forest surveillance across the South West states.
“Forest Surveillance: the Forum commends the efforts of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Hunters, Amotekun Corps Members and all the other security agencies. The Forum calls on the Federal Government to note the urgent need for enhanced forest surveillance across the South West States and called for the Federal Government to secure the vast forest belts that have become hideouts for criminal elements. To this end, the Forum agrees that the Federal Government should help deploy Forest Guards across the South west states, with each State Government responsible for providing the required personnel,” the communique reads in part.
The governors reaffirmed their collective commitment to reclaiming the forests, and ensuring that the spaces no longer served as safe-corridors for banditry, kidnapping, or any form of criminal activities.
On interstate migration, the governors expressed deep concern on the unregulated interstate migration that continues to pose significant challenges across the Southwest.
They called for stricter border monitoring, data collection and self-identification and each South west states to work with the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, for proper identification.
The governors agreed to intensify security collaboration to ensure that interstate migration did not become a conduit for insecurity.
On State Police, the governors reaffirmed their support for the establishment of State Police, emphasizing that ‘The Time is Now’ and it could no longer be delayed.
They also spoke on illegal mining.
The communique reads in part: “The forum expresses deep concern over the escalating illegal mining activities across the South West States, which continue to threaten environmental safety, public health and regional security.
“The forum calls for comprehensive and enforceable licensing framework, strengthened monitoring mechanisms, and strict enforcement actions against violators who may perpetrate violent crimes under the guise of mining.”
While acknowledging and appreciating the efforts of the federal government in providing food sufficiency, they also commended the various farmers in the region for the increase in agricultural output and subsequent stability and reduction in food prices.
The governors expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of the South West Development Commission, SWDC, and charged the commission to effectively deliver on its mandate.
They also commended the DAWN Commission and its activities on regional integration and security.
“Finally, the forum enjoins all the south west people to remain united and committed to the peace that exists in our dear region. We remain one, indivisible entity that will continue to enjoy and guard the religious tolerance that we have always been known for,” the communique reads in part.
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