Governors of Nigeria’s Southwest region have resolved to enhance security operations by improving intelligence sharing among state security agencies, local security networks, and federal law enforcement authorities.
Rising from a meeting in Lagos on Thursday, the governors mandated their Special Advisers on Security to collaborate more effectively to combat rising insecurity in the region.
“We are committed to strengthening intelligence gathering and security coordination across our states to ensure the safety of our people,” the communique stated.
The Forum also agreed to site the headquarters of the newly established South West Development Commission (SWDC) at Cocoa House, Ibadan, Oyo State.
“We appreciate the Federal Government and the Senate for setting up the SWDC. Cocoa House, as a historic symbol of our economic heritage, is the ideal location for its headquarters,” the governors said in the communique.
The commission is expected to drive infrastructure development, economic growth, and regional integration.
The governors commended Odu’a Investment Company Limited for its role in managing the joint assets of the Southwest and lauded its redevelopment projects, including the Premier Hotel in Ibadan and the proposed revamp of the Lagos Airport Hotel.
“Odu’a Investment has demonstrated efficiency in driving economic growth, and we support its plans to expand investments into key sectors like agriculture, real estate, and technology,” the Forum noted.
Concerned about rising food prices, the governors resolved to establish a State Food Inflation Joint Monitoring Team and set up Aggregation Centres and Food Hubs to stabilize food supply and curb price manipulation by middlemen.
“We recognize the urgent need to address food inflation, and these measures will ensure price stability and food security across the region,” the communique read.
The governors praised the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission for its improved performance over the past year and urged it to sustain efforts in industrialization and infrastructure development.
“DAWN Commission remains crucial in our pursuit of regional growth, and we encourage continued collaboration with our Commissioners for Agriculture,” the statement noted.
The meeting, attended by all six Southwest governors, reaffirmed their commitment to collective action in addressing security, economic, and developmental challenges in the region.
