South-West Governors Unite to Tackle ISWAP and Bandit Threats
Governors across Nigeria’s South-West region are forging a coordinated response to counter the reported migration of Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters and other criminal elements into the area’s forests. The escalating concerns over security have prompted urgent discussions, increased surveillance, and partnerships with traditional rulers and local security networks.
Last week, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde raised the alarm about bandits fleeing military operations in the North-West, stating during an interfaith service in Ibadan, “Some bad elements from the North-West are relocating here due to military heat in their zones. We will find and deal with them.”
Similarly, Ogun State officials confirmed engagements with security agencies, including the military and police, to strengthen border security.
ISWAP Members Arrested
The Department of State Services (DSS) recently detained 10 suspected ISWAP members in Ilesa, Osun State. The suspects were held following a Federal High Court order for a 60-day detention.
In response to these developments, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) called on the six South-West governors to declare a security emergency. OPC President Wasiu Afolabi urged immediate action to dismantle insurgent camps, stating, “The OPC is ready to confront these foreign invaders with full force, but we need government support.”
Security Consultations and Strategy
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, chair of the South-West Governors’ Forum, has been in consultation with his counterparts to devise a comprehensive regional security strategy. His spokesperson, Gboyega Akosile, affirmed the governor’s commitment, saying, “The governor receives daily intelligence briefings and remains prepared to address any security challenges.”
Meanwhile, Oyo State’s Security Adviser, Fatai Owoseni, assured residents of intensified efforts to root out criminal elements. “We are integrating local government chairmen and traditional rulers into our security framework to ensure grassroots vigilance,” he said.
Traditional Rulers Sound the Alarm
Traditional rulers, including the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, and the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, emphasized the critical role of local leadership in safeguarding communities. Oba Abolarin noted, “Internal vigilance is paramount. Our people must monitor their surroundings and report suspicious activities promptly.”
The Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, called for advanced technology to combat terrorism, while Oba Ajayi highlighted the urgency of state policing to strengthen local security responses.
Ekiti’s Police and Amotekun Corps Bolster Defenses
New Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, commended the government’s security measures, including Amotekun Corps and Agro Rangers. “We will dominate our environment and ensure citizens sleep with both eyes closed,” he pledged.
Osun Amotekun Corps Commander Adekunle Omoyele praised the state’s investment in resources, adding that motorcycles and patrol vehicles have been deployed to enhance operations.
As the region braces for potential security threats, the united front by South-West governors, traditional rulers, and community-led initiatives reflects a determined effort to maintain peace and safety across the states.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is meeting with the staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) in Abuja in an effort to resolve the ongoing industrial strike action that has disrupted flight operations across the country.
The closed-door meeting seeks to address grievances raised by NiMET workers, including the non-implementation of the national minimum wage, exclusion of certain employees from past allowances, and the neglect of critical training programmes.
Present at the meeting were the Director General of NiMET, representatives from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the National Union of Transport Employees, and other key stakeholders.
Also in attendance are members of several unions, including the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the National Union of Air Transport Employees.
The strike, now in its second day, has significantly affected flight schedules at several airports, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, leaving passengers stranded.
In a statement, Air Peace cited safety concerns as the reason for its decision to suspend flights amid the disruption
In a bid to improve access to affordable housing across Nigeria, the Nigeria Government is set to introduce tax incentives aimed to reduce the burden on real estate developers and building material suppliers,
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, made this known at a Building and Construction Industry Forum in Abuja.
Mr. Oyedele noted that the recently signed tax reform bills include provisions that would lower the cost of building materials and stimulate investment in the construction sector.
According to him,“It will reduce the tax burden—whether you’re buying, building, or selling real estate,”
“That’s the essence of these reforms: to make life better for everyone and to boost economic activities in the building and construction sector, and by extension, the entire economy.”
He emphasized that the government’s commitment to creating more accessible mortgage options for Nigerians across all income levels and called for greater collaboration among industry stakeholders to address persistent issues such as multiple taxation.
Also speaking at the forum, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa—represented by Director of Public Building, Mr. Temitope Gbemi—highlighted the potential of the tax reforms to integrate the informal economy into the formal construction sector.
He encouraged builders and developers to incorporate capital gains into project planning for better cost documentation and tax planning.
Dr. Samson Opaluwa, Chairman of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), expressed optimism that the reforms would enhance revenue generation within the sector.
He underscored the need for inclusive discussions given the industry’s composition.
“This industry is largely driven by SMEs, which produce about 60 to 70 percent of the country’s housing stock,” he noted.
On his part, the Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Mr. Festus Adebayo, stressed the need for the government to provide incentives to developers interested in social housing. He criticized the high costs, multiple charges, and bureaucratic hurdles that make affordable housing a distant reality.
The Federal Government has commenced a three-day Induction Programme for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The programme is designed to strengthen strategic leadership and policy execution at the topmost level of the federal bureaucracy.
Declaring the programme open, in Abuja, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated the appointees and described their roles as critical to effective governance and national development.
The Head of Service who noted that Permanent Secretaries serve as the engine room of government, responsible for driving policy implementation, institutional performance, and service-wide reform urged the inductees to uphold the highest standards of integrity, diligence, and teamwork,
She stressed that the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25) depends significantly on their leadership.
“This final lap of FCSSIP 25 calls for urgency, accountability, and strategic focus. You must translate vision into measurable results,” she said.
In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, described the programme as a strategic investment in leadership capacity and institutional effectiveness.
The Sessions featured expert-led discussions, simulations, and strategic briefings facilitated by Engr. Suleiman Adamu, former Minister of Water Resources; Dr. Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination; Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary Federal Minister of Justice; Alh. Yusuf Addy, retired Federal Director; Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Amb. Mustapha Lawal Suleiman, Mr. Adesola Olusade, and Dr. Ifeoma Anagbogu, all retired Permanent Secretaries.
Participants include Dr. Obi Emeka Vitalis, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, Mr. Danjuma Mohammed Sanusi, Mr. Olusanya Olubunmi, Dr. Keshinro Maryam Ismaila, Dr. Akujobi Chinyere Ijeoma, Dr. Umobong Emanso Okop, Dr. Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanmwen, Mrs. Oyekunle N. Patience, Dr. Kalba U. Danjuma, Mr. Nadungu Gagare, Mr. Onwusoro I. Maduka, Dr. Usman Salihu Aminu, Mr. Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, Mr. Ndiomu Ebiogeh Philip, Dr. Anuma N. Ogbonnaya, Mr. Adeladan Rafiu Olaninre, and Mr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammed, as well as the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi.
Head of Service
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