Governors of the South-West geopolitical zone have met and reached some decisions to address common pressing regional issues.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu hosted the meeting at Lagos State House in Ikeja on Thursday, February 13.
All other five governors from Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, and Osun states attended. The meeting focused on security, agriculture, food security, economic collaboration, and the South-West Development Commission.
An 11-point communique.was later read by Gov. Sanwo-Olu on behalf of the group.
The governors acknowledged the relative peace in the region but also the emerging threat from ISWAP activities in the zone. The governors called for enhanced collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force and local security outfits.
They urged vigilance from all stakeholders and committed to “taking necessary actions to counter these threats.”
A key decision was the establishment of a Joint Surveillance Monitoring Team that will oversee and coordinate security efforts. Special Advisers on Security will also collaborate and share intelligence between state security agencies, local networks, and federal authorities.
Regional Cooperation for Development
The governors endorsed the newly established South-West Development Commission (SWDC). “The Forum commends the Federal Government and the Senate for establishing the commission,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
The SWDC headquarters will be at Cocoa House, Ibadan. The governors praised the work of Odu’a Investment Company Ltd. in managing joint assets.
The South-West Governors' Forum, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, held a press conference after a closed meeting in Ikeja. He urged citizens to support presidential initiatives for economic improvement and to take advantage of the student loan scheme. pic.twitter.com/UmOLpdXCqF
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) February 13, 2025
Regarding rising food prices, the governors’ forum said, “Recognising the need for food security, the Forum encourages collaboration among South West States to implement collective measures aimed at curbing food inflation in the region.“
They expressed concern about “unscrupulous middlemen” inflating prices. To combat this, they agreed to establish a State Food Inflation Joint Monitoring Team.
SW governors will also create “Aggregation Centre /Food Hubs” to foster inter-state collaboration. This initiative aims to mitigate food inflation.
The governors commended the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission – a Commission set up to coordinate and integrate the socioeconomic programs of the zone.
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