𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡-𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬

The South-West Governors’ Forum has called on the Federal Government to immediately commence surveillance of forests across the six states of the region, saying the vast forest belts are increasingly becoming hideouts for criminals.

This call was part of a communiqué released on Monday after a meeting hosted by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan. In attendance were the Governors of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo States, while the Osun State Deputy Governor represented his principal.

The governors urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy Forest Guards across the South-West, while each state would provide the necessary personnel. They also reiterated the urgent need for the establishment of state police to enhance security across the country.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who read the communiqué, said the Forum commended President Tinubu for his “very valuable effort and fight against insecurity and various economic reforms on all his developmental agenda,” adding that “the Forum appreciates Mr. President.”

The Forum also expressed solidarity with the Federal Government regarding recent security challenges in some northern states. It stated:

“The Forum further expresses solidarity with the Federal Government in its efforts and the issues that have happened in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger states after the very recent stretch of kidnapping at the Government's Girls Comprehensive School in Mada town, the Catholic Institution of St. Mary's in Papiri, Agwara Local Government, Niger State and also at the CAC Church at Eruku, Kwara states.

The Forum applauds the swift response of the Federal Government towards the rescue of the Kwara abductees and more than 51 students of the Catholic School in Niger State.”

Following a review of the security situation in the region, the governors announced several key decisions aimed at safeguarding lives and property.

According to the communiqué:“

One, the Forum agreed to set up a South-West Security Fund, which will be set up under the DAWN commission and this fund will be administered by a Forum of Special Advisers on security of all the South-West states and they have been mandated to ensure that they keep on a monthly meeting amongst the six special advisors.”

The governors also approved the creation of a joint intelligence-sharing mechanism, stating:“

Two, the Forum also set up a joint security intelligence sharing and communication platform. The forum resolved to establish a live digital intelligence sharing platform amongst all the southwest states. This platform will exchange threat notifications, will ensure incidents are logged, traveler and cargo alerts and coordinate state-to-state response among others.”

The Forum commended the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, hunters, Amotekun, and other security agencies for their ongoing efforts.

A major highlight of the communiqué was the call for enhanced forest protection. The governors said:“

Thereafter, the forum calls on the Federal Government to note the urgent need for enhanced forest surveillance across the South-West states and, in general, call on the government to secure the vast forest belt that have become hideouts for all sorts of criminal elements.

To this end, the forum agrees that the Federal Government should help deploy the forest guards across the South-West states with each state government responsible for providing the required personnel.

The Forum reaffirms their collective commitments to reclaiming the forest and ensuring that these spaces no longer serve as safe corridors for banditry, for kidnapping or any form of criminality at all.”

On interstate migration, the governors expressed strong concern:

“The Forum expresses deep concern on the unregulated interstate migration that continues to pose significant challenges across the southwest. The Forum calls for stricter border monitoring, calls for data collection and self-identification of each South-West state and the Forum wants to work with the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, for proper identification.

The Forum agrees to intensify security collaboration to ensure that the interstate migration does not become a conduit for insecurity.”

The Forum also condemned the rise in illegal mining:

“The forum expresses deep concern over the escalating illegal mining activities across the South-West states. We see that it threatens environmental safety, it continues to create public health issues and of course our regional security. 

The Forum, therefore, calls for a comprehensive and enforceable licensing framework, which will be able to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and create a stricter enforcement action against violators who may perpetrate violent crimes under the guise of mining.”

On state police, the Forum again emphasized:

“The Forum reaffirms its support for the establishment of state police by emphasising that the time is now and we pray that it should not be delayed any longer.”

The governors acknowledged ongoing efforts to improve food security, stating:

“The Forum wishes to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the Federal Government that provided food sufficiency.”

Finally, the Forum called on people across the South-West to continue to promote peace and unity in the region.