Governors of the six states in Nigeria’s South-West have approved the creation of a South-West Security Fund (SWSF) as part of efforts to strengthen regional security coordination.
The decision was taken on Monday at a meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where the governors discussed agriculture, economic development, and escalating security threats affecting the region.
Reading the communiqué, Lagos State Governor and Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the fund will be domiciled in the DAWN Commission and administered by the security advisers of the six states.
The governors also agreed to establish a joint digital intelligence-sharing platform to enhance rapid response across the region.
“The forum resolves to establish a live, digital intelligence-sharing platform among all six South-West states,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“This platform will exchange threat notifications, incident logs, traveller and cargo alerts, and coordinate state-to-state rapid response.”
Concerned about criminal groups using forest reserves as hideouts, the governors urged the Federal Government to prioritise enhanced forest surveillance and support the deployment of forest guards, while the states will provide personnel.
They reaffirmed their commitment to reclaiming forest areas that have become safe corridors for kidnappers, bandits, and other criminals.
Sanwo-Olu added that the forum expressed solidarity with the Federal Government following recent kidnapping incidents in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger states.
The governors also raised concerns over unregulated interstate migration, warning that it continues to pose major security challenges.
“The forum agrees to intensify security collaboration to ensure that interstate migration does not become a conduit for insecurity,” he said.
Reiterating their long-standing demand, the governors renewed their call for the establishment of state police, insisting that “the time is now.”
Those present were Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke was represented by his deputy, Kola Adeusi.
