In a dramatic and unannounced move, the six governors of Nigeria’s South-West geopolitical zone convened in Ibadan for a high-stakes, closed-door security summit. The gathering, which took place at the Governor’s Office in Agodi and was hosted by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, underscores the deepening anxiety around rising insecurity — and signals a possible turning point in how the region addresses its safety and development challenges.
A Region Under Pressure: Why the Meeting Matters
The meeting comes amid what insiders describe as “emerging security threats” across the South-West. In recent months, governors have raised alarms about the influx of bandits fleeing military operations in the North, and the risk of the region being used as a safe haven by terror groups.
The urgency of the Ibadan meeting appears connected to these growing concerns. Governors are reportedly reviewing joint security mechanisms, with a particular focus on the Amotekun Corps — the regional security outfit established by the six states.
But security wasn’t the only item on the agenda. The summit also aligns with long-term developmental plans under the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), as governors are looking to fast-track infrastructural projects and deepen regional integration.
The Stakes Are High: What’s Driving the Push for Joint Security
- Bandit Influx and Terror Threats
Governor Makinde has publicly warned that some “bad elements” displaced from the North-West are relocating to Oyo State, citing intelligence briefings and even pointing out that bandit camps were established near his own birthday retreat. This is not just a rhetorical concern: the threat of ISWAP (Islamic State’s West Africa Province) has also been explicitly mentioned by the governors, tying regional insecurity to broader national and transnational dynamics. - Bolstering Amotekun
The Amotekun Corps is clearly central to the governors’ strategy. They plan to boost its capacity through better coordination, intelligence sharing, recruitment, and technological upgrades. In earlier resolutions, the governors agreed to create a Joint Surveillance Monitoring Team under Amotekun, deploying advanced surveillance tools (including aerial systems), and aligning special advisers on security across states for joint intelligence work. - Community and Regional Collaboration
Calls for more cooperation between the state governments and local security actors have intensified. Groups such as Afenifere have praised the governors’ move to institutionalize regional security under Amotekun. On the flip side, traditional and community-based security formations like OPC (Oodua Peoples Congress) and hunters have criticized the governors for not fully integrating them into the security architecture — even as they offer to assist. - Preventing the Region from Becoming a Safe Haven
The South-West governors appear determined to prevent their region from being used as a “base” by criminal or terror groups. According to Oyo State’s governor, this has been a serious consideration: “We will find and deal with them.”
Beyond Security: Development on the Table
While the security threat looms large, the governors’ meeting wasn’t strictly a military-style response. It also emphasized development through DAWN — a regional framework they’ve used to pursue shared infrastructure, economic growth, and social development.
In prior meetings, the governors committed themselves to several long-term regional priorities:
- Food Security: They outlined plans to set up food hubs and aggregation centers to counter food inflation and improve inter-state food supply.
- Economic Integration: The South-West Development Commission (SWDC) plays a key role in coordinating investment, regional enterprises, and state-level infrastructure development.
- Institutional Strengthening: The meeting in Ibadan is a clear signal that the governors are ready to further institutionalize cooperation — not just for security but for broader governance through DAWN.
Challenges & Risks Ahead
- Coordination Complexity: Aligning six governors, each with distinct political priorities and local pressures, is no small feat. Implementing joint security structures requires sustained political will, not just at the summit level but in day-to-day operations.
- Resource Demand: Upgrading Amotekun will demand more funding, training, and technology. States must commit resources, and there’s always the risk of underfunding or divergent priorities.
- Community Buy-In: Some local security actors feel sidelined. Without their full inclusion, the regional security architecture may lack legitimacy on the ground.
- Terror Adaptation: As governors strengthen their surveillance and response, criminal groups may also adapt. The risk of retaliation, or of criminal elements becoming more sophisticated, is real.
- Sustainability: Emergency meetings can kickstart action, but long-term success will depend on follow-through, consistent policies, and institutional resilience.
Why This Meeting Could Be a Turning Point
This Ibadan summit is more than a routine governors’ meeting. It reflects a growing recognition that security is not just a state issue, but a regional one — and that the South-West must act collectively. By combining regional developmental goals with coordinated security action, the governors are signaling a willingness to rethink how they protect their states and citizens.
If executed effectively, their plans could:
- Strengthen Amotekun into a more capable, technologically equipped regional force
- Tighten the net on criminal networks seeking to exploit safe zones within the South-West
- Reinforce community trust and participation by integrating local security stakeholders
- Leverage development (via DAWN) to address root causes of insecurity: poverty, underdevelopment, and weak inter-state cooperation
