The South West Governors’ Forum on Monday announced new security and development measures aimed at strengthening safety across the region. The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued after the governors’ meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The governors commended President Bola Tinubu for ongoing reforms and expressed support for Federal Government rescue efforts in Kebbi, Kwara and Niger following recent kidnappings.

Key decisions include the creation of a South West Security Fund under the DAWN Commission and a digital intelligence-sharing platform that will link all six states, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti, for real-time security coordination.

The forum also raised concerns about criminal activities in forests, urging the Federal Government to deploy Forest Guards while states provide personnel. It further called for stricter monitoring of interstate migration and closer collaboration with NIMC for proper identification.

On illegal mining, the governors warned that the activity poses growing environmental and security threats and demanded stricter licensing and enforcement.

Reiterating their long-standing stance on decentralised policing, the governors again declared that state police “can no longer be delayed.”

They also acknowledged federal efforts in food security and thanked President Tinubu for establishing the South West Development Commission.

The forum urged residents to remain united and committed to peace and religious tolerance across the region.