South-West Governors Launch Regional Security Fund, Demand Immediate State Police

Governors of the six South-West states have resolved to establish a South-West Security Fund (SWSF), insisting that the creation of state police can no longer be postponed.

The decision emerged at a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday, where the governors also discussed agriculture, economic development, and security challenges confronting the region.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor and chairman of the forum, read the communique issued at the end of the meeting, revealing that the SWSF will operate under the DAWN Commission and be managed by the forum of special advisers on security from all six states.

“The forum also resolves to create a live digital intelligence-sharing platform among Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states,” Sanwo-Olu said. “This platform will facilitate the exchange of threat notifications, incident reports, traveler and cargo alerts, and coordinate rapid responses across state lines.”

The governors further called on the federal government to intensify forest surveillance across the South-West, citing that criminal hideouts have proliferated in the region’s forests. They agreed that state governments would provide personnel for forest guards, while the federal government assists in deployment.

“The governors remain committed to reclaiming our forests and ensuring they no longer serve as safe havens for bandits, kidnappers, or other criminal activities,” Sanwo-Olu added.

Expressing solidarity with the federal government over security operations in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger states, the governors voiced concern about unregulated interstate migration, which they said exacerbates insecurity.

“The forum commits to intensified security collaboration to prevent interstate migration from becoming a conduit for crime,” Sanwo-Olu said. “We also reiterate our support for the establishment of state police. The time to act is now.”

Other governors present included Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, and Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti. Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke was represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi