Governors of Nigeria’s South-West region have agreed to form a joint surveillance and monitoring team to tackle rising insecurity in the area.

This resolution was reached during the South-West Governors’ Forum meeting held in Lagos on Thursday.

“Recognising emerging security threats, we have resolved to establish a Joint Surveillance and Monitoring Team to enhance security coordination across the South-West,” Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu wrote on his X handle following the one-day meeting.

Sanwo-Olu, who chairs the Forum, reaffirmed the governors’ commitment to taking decisive action to ensure the safety and stability of communities in the region.

Since assuming office in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has introduced several economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira. While these measures have led to inflationary pressures, experts argue they are necessary steps toward economic reform.

Despite concerns over rising inflation, the South-West governors expressed their confidence in President Tinubu’s economic strategies.

“We passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the economic stability and improvements recorded across the nation, particularly in the sustained supply and distribution of petroleum products and the stabilisation of the exchange rate,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governors attributed the surge in food prices to “unscrupulous middlemen in the supply chain” and resolved to establish a State Food Inflation Joint Monitoring Team alongside Aggregation Centres and Food Hubs to combat food inflation.

Additionally, the Forum commended the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), introduced by President Tinubu’s administration, noting that it has greatly benefited students in the region.

They urged eligible students to take advantage of the scheme to further their education.

Furthermore, the governors expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for establishing the South-West Development Commission (SWDC), with its headquarters in Cocoa House, Ibadan, Oyo State.

“I have full confidence in Odu’a Investment Company Limited’s management of our regional assets,” Sanwo-Olu stated. “We also urge the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission to strengthen collaboration with our Commissioners for Agriculture to drive industrialisation and infrastructure development in the region.”