The South West Governors’ Forum has demanded the immediate establishment of state police, saying the ‘time is now’, and ‘it can no longer be delayed’.
Rising from their meeting on Monday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the forum also commended President Bola Tinubu on the fight against insecurity, and its various economic reforms and other developmental agenda.
At their emergency meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the governors — Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun), who was represented by his deputy — also expressed solidarity with the Federal Government in its rescue efforts in Kebbi, Kwara and Niger States after the recent spate of kidnappings at the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, the St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, and the CAC Church at Eruku, Kwara State.
The forum applauded the Federal Government’s swift response in the rescue of the Kwara State abductees and more than 51 students of the Catholic School, Niger State.
The governors reviewed the current state of security in the Southwest and announced a series of security, economic and administrative measures aimed at strengthening safety and development across the region.
In the communiqué at the end of the forum’s meeting held on Monday at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, the governors said that their resolutions followed extensive deliberations on agriculture, economic and regional development, as well as security challenges affecting the South West region.
The forum agreed to set up a South West Security Fund under DAWN Commission to be administered by Forum of Special Advisers on Security of all South West States.
It resolved to establish a live, digital intelligence-sharing platform among all six states. ‘This platform will exchange threat notifications, incident logs, traveler and cargo alerts and coordinate state-to- state rapid response’, the communiqué stated.
On forest surveillance, the forum commended the efforts of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Hunters, Amotekun Corps Members and all the other security. It, however, called on the Federal Government to note the urgent need for enhanced forest surveillance across the region and provide security for 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 Southwest states, with each state government responsible for providing the required personnel’.
The governors expressed deep concern on the unregulated interstate migration that continues to pose significant challenges across the region. It then called for stricter border monitoring, data collection and self- identification and each states in the region to work with the National Identity Management Commission for proper identification.
On illegal mining, the forum expressed deep concern over the escalating activities across the region, which it said continued to threaten environmental safety, public health and regional. It advocated a comprehensive and enforceable licencing framework, strengthened monitoring mechanisms, and strict enforcement actions against violators who may perpetrate violent crimes under the guise of mining.
The forum enjoined all the Southwest 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’.
