South West govs meet in Lagos, set up team to tackle terrorism, food insecurity

By Lukman Olabiyi

The six South-West governors, under the umbrella of the South-West Governors’ Forum, held a crucial zonal meeting yesterday to tackle the growing security concerns posed by terrorists and address the issue of food insecurity through regional collaboration.

The meeting held at Lagos House, Ikeja, discussed pressing issues concerning agriculture, security, economic development, and the recent establishment of a South-West Development Commission by the Federal Government.

The governors agreed to appoint special advisors on security in each state and set up a joint surveillance monitoring team to coordinate security efforts across the South West.

They also pledged to deploy advanced technologies, including area surveillance systems to improve security operations and enhance intelligence-sharing between local security outfits and federal enforcement agencies.

The governors condemned any threats to the region’s security and emphasised the importance of collaboration between the Nigerian Police and local security forces.

They also called for vigilance and continued peaceful coexistence among citizens in the region.

In a bid to combat food insecurity, the forum declared its intention to establish a Food Security Joint Monitoring Team to foster inter-state cooperation and mitigate rising food prices.

The forum condemned activities of middlemen causing food inflation and also unveiled measures to ensure food security, including improving logistics and working together as a region to reduce economic inflation.

The governors praised the Federal Government for its role in stabilising the economy, particularly the successful implementation of the student loan scheme, which has benefitted South West students.

They also acknowledged the efforts of the Oodua Investment Company Ltd in managing regional assets, including the redevelopment of the Premier Hotel in Ibadan and plans for the Lagos Airport Hotel.

The meeting also covered the ongoing progress of the South West Development Commission, with the governors agreeing to support the location of its headquarters in Ibadan once legislation is finalised.

The forum ended with a commitment to continue working together on key regional issues and strengthening collaborative efforts for the overall development of the South West.

The meeting hosted by the Forum’s chairman and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was attended by Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Biodun Oyebaniji (Ekiti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).

The visitors, who started arriving at the Lagos House, Ikeja, from 10:55 am with Governor Makinde as the first to arrive, were received by Governor Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mrs. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin and the Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde.

The closed-door meeting, which started at 12:15pm after the arrival of all the governors, focused on common interests and key regional issues, such as agriculture, food security, economic collaboration, security and the South-West Development Commission.

Yesterday’s meeting was a follow-up to a similar one held in Lagos on June 10, 2024, where Governor Sanwo-Olu was unanimously appointed as chairman of the Forum.

Since its last meeting, the forum under the leadership of Sanwo-Olu had prioritised policies aimed at strengthening regional development in the zone.