South-West Leaders Forge United Front Against Insecurity
In a decisive move to counter escalating security challenges, top leaders from Nigeria's South-West region have mapped out a detailed and unified strategy. This landmark development occurred at the South-West Zonal National Security Summit, held on Friday and organized by the Senate in collaboration with the Lagos State Government.
A Multi-Faceted Approach to Safety
Senator Tokunbo Abiru, who chaired the summit, set the tone by stressing the critical need for initiatives that are coordinated, leverage modern technology, and remain deeply rooted in the community. He underscored that such efforts are vital to protect the region's core values of openness, fairness, and tolerance. "Security is a collective responsibility," Abiru stated, adding that "while global partnerships can help, real implementation must be local and led by experts who understand our terrain."
Representing the collective voice of the South-West Governors' Forum, Ayodele Ogunsan, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, delivered a message on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He reaffirmed the administration's unwavering commitment to strengthening the existing security architecture and passionately called for the establishment of a cohesive regional framework. The primary goals of this framework are to protect lives and bolster economic stability across the South-West.
Key Recommendations from Stakeholders
The summit saw robust contributions from various sectors of society. The traditional rulers, led by the Alara of Ilara, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, presented a clear set of demands to the federal government. Their recommendations included:
- The full adoption and implementation of community policing.
- Integration of advanced security technology.
- Creation of a joint security task force for the region.
- Annual recruitment of 30,000 new police personnel to address manpower shortages.
- Expansion of job opportunities to engage the youth and curb restiveness.
Adding a legislative perspective, Senator Ibrahim Jimoh, the sponsor of the National Security Summit Bill, emphasized that combating terrorism and insurgency requires robust military-civilian cooperation and continuous public engagement. Echoing the call for localized solutions, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, strongly advocated for state policing and local government autonomy to empower councils in maintaining security at the grassroots level.
Former Ogun State governor and current senator, Gbenga Daniel, called for strengthened collaboration among all stakeholders, a sentiment shared by religious leaders present. Both Christian and Islamic leaders urged the government to improve welfare packages for security operatives to enhance their efficiency and commitment in the field.
National Context: Tinubu's Reaction to Recent Attacks
The urgency of the South-West summit is underscored by recent tragic events elsewhere in the country. President Bola Tinubu, in a post on X, expressed that he was "depressed" by the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other soldiers in Borno State. The President confirmed he has directed security agencies to act swiftly to rescue the abducted girls and respond decisively to the uptick in violent extremism. He also called on Nigerian communities to support security forces by sharing vital information.
This South-West security summit was one of six such meetings held simultaneously across Nigeria's geopolitical zones, signaling a nationwide effort to address the pervasive issue of insecurity.
