The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, Afenifere, has praised the South-West governors for their decision to establish a Joint Surveillance Monitoring Team to enhance and coordinate security efforts across the region.
In a statement released on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere commended the governors’ initiative.
DAILY POST recalls that the six governors—Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos)—met at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, where they agreed to set up the surveillance team and implement measures to reduce food prices in the region.
Acknowledging security concerns, including reports of Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) infiltration, the governors resolved to establish a Joint Surveillance Monitoring Team to oversee security operations across the South-West.
They also mandated their Special Advisers on Security to enhance intelligence gathering and sharing among state security agencies, local vigilante groups, and federal law enforcement agencies operating within the region.
Afenifere’s Reaction
Afenifere described the initiative as timely and necessary, highlighting that a foundation for regional security already exists in the South-West Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun.
“All South-West states, except Lagos, have established Amotekun. The next step is ensuring Lagos sets up its own unit while streamlining the network’s operations, equipping personnel, and boosting morale through fair wages and incentives,” the statement read.
However, Afenifere urged the governors to ensure the plan goes beyond rhetoric and is fully implemented. It called for modern surveillance equipment to detect threats and efficient resources to prevent and respond to criminal activities.
On Food Inflation
Regarding the governors’ resolution to tackle rising food prices, Afenifere advised them to focus on boosting food production rather than merely trying to regulate market prices.
“If food is abundant, sellers and middlemen will naturally lower prices. Governments should prioritize large-scale food production in their respective states,” the statement emphasized.
Afenifere also questioned the effectiveness of initiatives such as ‘State Food Inflation Joint Monitoring Team’ and ‘Aggregation Centre/Food Hubs’, arguing that they might not significantly reduce food costs.
Instead, it urged South-West leaders to revive large-scale agriculture to reduce dependency on food supplies from other regions, a situation that was different in the past.
“We must return to producing what we consume—or at least a substantial portion of it,” Afenifere concluded.