South-West Governors Renew Call for State Police, Approve Regional Security Fund
In a
decisive move to address mounting insecurity across Nigeria’s South-West
region, governors under the aegis of the South-West Governors’ Forum convened
in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 24, 2025.
The meeting, chaired by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, brought together key leaders including Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, and host governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo. Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke was represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi.
The
governors renewed their longstanding demand for the establishment of state
police, arguing that the current centralized policing system is inadequate to
confront the region’s escalating challenges of kidnapping, banditry, illegal
mining, and unregulated interstate migration. They emphasized that localized
policing would allow for more effective, community-based responses to security
threats, tailored to the unique realities of each state.
A major
outcome of the meeting was the approval of a South-West Regional Security Fund.
This fund, to be managed by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN)
Commission, will be supervised by special advisers on security from all six
states. Its purpose is to strengthen coordinated operations, intelligence
sharing, and rapid response initiatives across the region. The governors
stressed that the fund would serve as a backbone for joint security efforts,
ensuring that resources are pooled and deployed efficiently to counter criminal
activities.
Beyond
financial measures, the governors also endorsed the creation of a live, digital
intelligence-sharing platform. This system will enable real-time exchange of
threat alerts, incident reports, and inter-state communication among security
agencies. They believe such a platform will significantly enhance collaboration
and reduce response times during emergencies.
The
communiqué further highlighted concerns over illegal mining, which has become
both an environmental and security threat. The governors called for stricter
licensing frameworks and tougher enforcement to curb unlawful mining
operations.
They also
raised alarms about unregulated interstate migration, urging closer
collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to ensure
proper identification of migrants and prevent criminal infiltration.
On forest
security, the governors appealed to the Federal Government to support the
deployment of Forest Guards across the region. These guards would reclaim
forest belts currently exploited as hideouts by criminal elements, thereby
restoring safety to rural communities.
The
meeting took place against the backdrop of worsening insecurity nationwide,
including mass abductions of schoolchildren in Niger and Kebbi States, attacks
on worshippers in Kwara, and killings of police officers in Bauchi.
These
incidents underscored the urgency of the governors’ demands and reinforced their
argument that regional and state-level solutions are indispensable in
complementing federal efforts.
This
renewed call for state police and the establishment of a regional security fund
mark a significant step in the South-West’s quest for greater autonomy in
safeguarding its people.
The
governors’ collective stance reflects a growing consensus that Nigeria’s
security architecture must evolve to meet the realities of modern threats, with
regional cooperation serving as a vital pillar in that transformation.
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