The South-West Governors Forum convened yesterday to announce plans for a new regional security outfit aimed at tackling banditry and other criminal activities.
In addition to strengthening security, the governors agreed to create joint food hubs to combat rising food prices in the region.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State shared these decisions in an 11-point communiqué following a closed-door meeting at the Lagos House in Ikeja. Governors in attendance included Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).
The meeting, which began at 12:15 pm, focused on addressing shared concerns and regional priorities, including security, agriculture, economic collaboration, food security, and the establishment of the South-West Development Commission.
After extensive deliberations on key issues affecting the South West, Sanwo-Olu, who read the communique, said: “The Forum commends the South-West governors for maintaining relative peace and security in the region, particularly during the recent festive period.
“Acknowledging the threat posed by ISWAP activities in parts of the South-West, the Forum strongly condemns any threat to the region’s security. It encourages enhanced collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force and local security outfits, urging them to remain vigilant. It also commits to taking necessary actions to counter these threats.
“It further agreed to establish a Joint Surveillance Monitoring Team to oversee and coordinate security efforts across the South West region. Additionally, the Forum resolved that its Special Advisers on Security would collaborate on intelligence gathering and sharing between states security agencies, local security networks and Federal law enforcement authorities.”
On the establishment of the South West Development Commission, SWDC, the governor’s said: “The Forum commends the Federal Government and the Senate for establishing the commission and collectively agreed to situate its headquarters at Cocoa House, Ibadan, Oyo State.
“It acknowledges the efforts of Odu’a Investment Company Ltd. in efficiently managing joint assets of the South-West region over the past five years.”
On food security measures, they said: “Recognising the need for food security, the Forum encourages collaboration among South West States to implement collective measures aimed at curbing food inflation in the region.
“It expresses concern over the activities of unscrupulous middlemen who deliberately inflate prices of goods and commodities in South-West markets. It has, therefore, agreed to establish a State Food Inflation Joint Monitoring Team and also the establishment of Aggregation Centre /Food Hubs to foster inter-state collaboration and mitigate food inflation.
“It commends the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN, Commission for its improved performance over the past twelve months and encourages it to continue working diligently with South-West Commissioners for Agriculture on industrialization and infrastructural development across the region.”
