Iperu: The Southern Governor’s Forum has commended President Bola Tinubu’s prompt response to recent security threats witnessed in some parts of the country. Gov. Dapo Abiodun, the Chairman of the forum, stated this in his opening remarks at the regional meeting of governors of southern states of Nigeria, in Iperu, Ogun.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Abiodun saluted the president for his leadership in responding to the recent wave of abductions targeting schoolchildren. The governor explained that the president’s decision to personally coordinate rescue efforts rather than delegating responsibility demonstrated a commitment to the protection of every Nigerian life. He added that the successful rescue of abducted students is evidence of a security strategy that has become more coordinated, intelligence-driven, and responsive.
He emphasized that this act of leadership reassures citizens that the safety of children remains a top national priority and that Nigeria will not allow criminals, insurgents, or opportunistic elements to undermine the nation’s stability. ‘The president’s swift action reminds us that leadership is measured not only in policy decisions but also in empathy, urgency, and decisive intervention,’ he stated.
Abiodun also highlighted the president’s commitment to national development, reflected in the large-scale infrastructure projects currently underway across the country. ‘The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway and the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway are transformative investments that will reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape, unlock new corridors of trade, and strengthen national integration,’ he added.
The governor noted that the meeting goes beyond geographical proximity, representing a union defined by shared aspirations, common challenges, and a collective determination to build a future of stability and prosperity for the people. He emphasized the importance of historical consciousness to guide collaborative efforts as they navigate the complex realities of Nigeria’s federation.
Abiodun remarked on the pivotal moment southern Nigeria faces, marked by rising security threats, economic pressures, and the urgent need for coordinated leadership. He advocated for the creation of state police as a non-negotiable component of their demand for true federalism and effective grassroots security.
He disclosed that a dedicated Regional Rapid Response Fund would be essential for emergency deployments, rescue operations, forensic support, and inter-state training exercises. At the state level, measures such as mandatory documentation of foreign nationals, dismantling unlawful enclaves, regulating scavenger activities, intensified forest operations, and a crackdown on illegal mining must be pursued with renewed vigor.
The governor stressed the importance of community policing in strengthening the security architecture of southern Nigeria. By empowering local communities, traditional rulers, and neighborhood structures to work collaboratively with formal security agencies, community policing provides early-warning signals, enhances intelligence gathering, and improves trust between citizens and law enforcement.
Abiodun concluded by urging southern states to strengthen joint security task forces, share intelligence seamlessly, and adopt regional strategies to confront similar threats. ‘I am confident that we can confront the challenges before us and chart a new path of peace, prosperity, and sustainable development for the entire southern region of Nigeria,’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as of the time of filing this report, governors of Ekiti, Enugu, Ondo, Rivers, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, Lagos, Bayelsa, and Imo states were in attendance.