Governors of the South-West geopolitical zone today converged in Ibadan, Oyo State, for an emergency meeting of the South-West Governors’ Forum to deliberate on the critical issue of rising insecurity and the need to fortify the region against criminal incursions.
The meeting, hosted by Governor Seyi Makinde, was prompted by escalating security threats, including the recent spate of mass abductions and the observed influx of non-state actors into the South-West region.
Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos, Chairman of the Forum), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and the host, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), were all confirmed to be in attendance.
A central theme of the closed-door deliberation is the strategy to prevent the displacement of bandits from the North-West and North-Central from taking root in the South-West’s forests and rural communities.
Key Deliberation Point: The Governors are reviewing ongoing collaborative security initiatives, particularly the effectiveness and capacity of the Amotekun Corps, with a view to enhancing its intelligence gathering and operational reach across the six states.
Beyond security, the agenda includes discussions on accelerating long-term goals for regional stability and economic growth. The governors are expected to adopt resolutions aimed at:
1. Fast-tracking infrastructural development, including key intra-regional highways and economic corridors.
2. Strengthening economic and policy integration under the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission.
3. Harmonizing strategies to support the Federal Government’s economic reforms while managing local inflationary pressures.
The outcome of this crucial meeting is expected to set a new security policy direction for the region, aimed at consolidating existing internal safeguards against external security threats.
