Southern governors and traditional rulers from the South-West, South-East and South-South met on Wednesday at the Governor’s Residence in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, where they outlined sweeping security and governance decisions aimed at addressing rising instability across the region.
The meeting, held jointly by the Southern Governors’ Forum and the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council, focused on insecurity, development cooperation, and strengthening federal state institutional partnerships. At the end of deliberations, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Nigeria’s unity and pledged to work more collaboratively to protect lives and rebuild public confidence in government.
The Forum began by condoling with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the recent killing of military personnel in Borno State and the mass abductions recorded in Kebbi, Kwara and Niger States. They acknowledged the federal rescue operations that followed, describing them as critical demonstrations of national resolve.
In their review of national economic performance, the governors and traditional rulers commended the President for what they described as “bold and visionary leadership” in stabilizing foreign exchange, reducing inflation for seven consecutive months and easing food prices. They also highlighted federal infrastructure projects such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway as indicators of renewed development momentum.
They further praised ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s security institutions, including the rehabilitation of Police and NSCDC training colleges, noting that improved operational capacity remains central to national stability. The Forum also welcomed the launch of the Renewed Hope Ward Initiative, which it said would directly impact millions of people across the southern states.
A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to strengthening collaboration between state governments and traditional rulers. Leaders of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council joined the session to reinforce the strategic role of traditional institutions in intelligence gathering, early warning, peacebuilding and community-level security management. Governors were encouraged to formally integrate traditional rulers into their state security councils.
Security chiefs from the Nigerian Army, Police, DSS and NSCDC gave extensive briefings on the regional security landscape, outlining current manpower gaps, equipment challenges and opportunities for improved coordination between federal and state agencies.
After reviewing the security situation across all southern states, the Forum agreed to establish a joint security funding mechanism at the zonal level to support operations, training and logistics. The governors also endorsed a unified intelligence-sharing framework anchored on modern communication technology that will enable real-time collaboration across state boundaries.
The Forum reiterated its long-standing demand for state policing, saying the growing success of community-based security outfits proves that Nigeria urgently needs a decentralized policing system. It also encouraged southern states to work with the National Identity Management Commission to develop a streamlined resident identification programme to strengthen internal security.
Traditional rulers and governors also discussed land governance and illegal mining, describing both as emerging threats. They urged closer cooperation with environmental agencies and traditional councils to curb unauthorized mining and prevent its associated security and ecological risks.
Member states were further encouraged to extend stronger financial and operational support to their traditional councils to enable them to play more effective roles in governance and security coordination.
In a rare joint position, the governors and traditional rulers passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu, recalling the 2021 Asaba Accord in which southern leaders collectively demanded a President of southern origin. They affirmed that their support remains consistent and that the region stands firmly behind the current administration.
The Forum also addressed what it described as attempts to sow division and fuel disinformation within the South. It assured citizens that the region remains united and committed to peace, cultural harmony and national cohesion. The leaders pledged to continue speaking with one voice and to work closely with the Federal Government to advance the safety, stability and economic progress of all Nigerians.
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