The Southwest Governors’ Forum on Monday declared that the time for the country to establish state police has come.

The governors also drew the Federal Government’s attention to what they called urgent need for enhanced forest surveillance across states of the region.

The forum called on the Federal Government to secure the vast forest belts, which it said, have become hideouts for criminal elements.

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In a communiqué issued after a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, all the six governors agreed that the Federal Government should help deploy Forest Guards across the South west states, with each State Government responsible for providing the required personnel.

The communique of the meeting was read by the Chairman of the Forum and governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

In attendance were Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who was represented by his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi and the host governor, Seyi Makinde.

In the communique, the Forum commended the President for his intervention in national security and urgent rescue missions in other states, expressing solidarity with the Federal Government over recent kidnap incidents in Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states.

The forum agreed to set up a South West Security Fund (SWSF) under DAWN Commission to be administered by Forum of Special Advisers on Security of all South West States and to meet monthly.

To improve intelligence gathering and rapid response across the six states, the Forum adopted a unified digital communication network.

“The Forum resolves to establish a live, digital intelligence-sharing platform among all six South West States (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti). This platform will exchange threat notifications, incident logs, traveller and cargo alerts, and coordinate state-to-state rapid response.”

The communique also highlighted concerns about forest infiltration by criminal gangs, urging federal assistance in deploying Forest Guards and reaffirming the commitment of the governors to secure forest belts.

“The Forum calls on the Federal Government to note the urgent need for enhanced forest surveillance across the South West States and called for the Federal Government to secure the vast forest belts that have become hideouts for criminal elements.:

“The Governors reaffirm their collective commitment to reclaiming the forests, and ensuring that these spaces no longer serve as safe corridors for banditry, kidnapping, or any form of criminal activities.”

Addressing the growing problem of unregulated migration into the South West, the Forum emphasised the need for tighter border management and improved identification systems.

“The Forum expresses deep concern on the unregulated interstate migration that continues to pose significant challenges across the Southwest.

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

The forum also expressed worry over effects of Illegal mining across the region.

“The Forum expresses deep concern over the escalating illegal mining activities across the South West States, which continue to threaten environmental safety, public health and regional security,” the forum said.

The governors reaffirmed their support for the establishment of state police, saying the time is now.

“The Forum reaffirms its support for the establishment of State Police, emphasising that ‘The Time is Now’ and it can no longer be delayed,” they declared.

The governors also reviewed agricultural productivity and food security, acknowledging improvements recorded across the region.

“The Forum acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of the Federal Government in providing food sufficiency and in particular commends the various farmers in the region for the increase in agricultural output and subsequent stability and reduction in food prices.”