Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - Governors of Nigeria’s six south-west states on Monday approved the creation of a South-West Security Fund (SWSF) and a joint intelligence-sharing system as part of new measures to confront worsening insecurity in the region.
The governors met in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to
discuss agriculture, economic cooperation and security threats. Lagos State
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who chairs the forum, said the security fund would
be domiciled in the DAWN Commission and managed by the security advisers of all
six states.
They also agreed to launch a digital, real-time intelligence
platform to allow Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states to share threat
alerts, incident reports, traveller and cargo advisories, and to coordinate
rapid cross-border responses.
The governors urged the federal government to strengthen
surveillance of forest belts across the region, which they said had become
hideouts for kidnappers and other criminal groups. They called on Abuja to
deploy forest guards while state governments supply personnel.
“The governors reaffirm their collective commitment to
reclaiming the forests and ensuring these spaces no longer serve as safe
corridors for banditry, kidnapping or any form of criminal activity,” Sanwo-Olu
said.
The forum expressed concern over unregulated interstate
migration and said states would increase joint patrols and information-sharing
to ensure it does not become a channel for insecurity.
They also reiterated support for the establishment of state
police, saying “the time is now” for the federal government to approve it.
Other attendees included Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde, Ondo
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun and Ekiti Governor Biodun
Oyebanji. Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke was represented by his deputy,
Kola Adeusi.
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