South-West Governors’ Forum Tells Tinubu: “We Need State Police Now” Over Insecurity

South-West Governors’ Forum Tells Tinubu: “We Need State Police Now” Over Insecurity

In a strong communique released at their recent meeting in Ibadan, the South-West Governors’ Forum, representing Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states, has made a bold push for state police as a solution to mounting security challenges in the region.

1. Immediate Establishment of State Police
   The Forum declared that the time for state policing “can no longer be delayed,” arguing that local threats require more tailored, community-based responses.

2. Launch of South-West Security Fund (SWSF)
   A regional security fund will be created under the DAWN Commission, managed by the forum’s special advisers on security. This fund is set up to support infrastructure, rapid response, and long-term safety initiatives across the six states.

3. Intelligence-Sharing Platform
   The governors agreed to establish a real-time digital intelligence system to exchange threat alerts, incident logs, traveler and cargo warnings, and coordinate rapid state-to-state security responses.

4. Forest Surveillance and Guards
   Expressing concern over forested areas being used as hideouts for criminals, the Forum called on the federal government to assist in deploying forest guards to secure these vulnerable corridors.

5. Border Monitoring & Migration Control
   The governors highlighted unregulated interstate migration as a significant security risk. They urged tighter border checks, better data collection, and collaboration with the Nationa Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for accurate identification. .

6. Addressing Illegal Mining
   Illegal mining was flagged as a major security and environmental threat. The Forum proposed stricter licensing, improved monitoring, and stronger enforcement against violators.

Why This Matters

• The push for state police signals deep frustration with the current centralized policing system, which many governors believe is ill-equipped to handle local threats.

• By creating its own security fund and intelligence-sharing platform, the South-West is asserting regional self-reliance in its fight against criminality.

• The attention to forest surveillance and illegal mining highlights that the region’s security concerns are not just about banditry, but also terrain, migration, and economic crime.

• If implemented, these proposals could reshape how policing and security are handled at the sub-national level in Nigeria.