Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF)
By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja –
Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has pledged to strengthen intelligence sharing and collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to address rising security challenges, violent extremism, and inter-communal conflicts across the country.
The commitment was contained in a communiqué issued after the Forum’s fifth meeting held on Thursday in Abuja, and signed by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The communiqué was read to journalists by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.
Sanwo-Olu said the 36 state governors deliberated on a wide range of national issues, including security, the ongoing bank recapitalisation exercise, and the Reserved Seats for Women Bill currently before the National Assembly.
> “The forum received a presentation from the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Adeola Ajayi, on emerging security threats and intelligence-led strategies to strengthen subnational coordination,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
He explained that the DSS briefing focused on countering violent extremism, managing inter-communal tensions, and addressing security risks associated with economic hardship and political transitions.
> “Governors expressed appreciation to the DSS for its proactive engagement and reiterated their commitment to deepen intelligence sharing and collaboration with federal security agencies to enhance peace and stability across the states,” he added.
The Lagos governor also announced that the Forum had thrown its weight behind the Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1349), describing it as a vital step toward promoting gender equity and inclusive governance.
> “The forum supports the bill seeking to create reserved seats for women in parliaments to promote equity and inclusive governance in Nigeria,” he said, urging lawmakers at both the national and state levels to vote in favour of the bill.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create special constituencies to be contested exclusively by women in the National and State Assemblies, as a temporary measure to boost gender representation.
> “Governors were urged to engage their senators, members of the House of Representatives, and State Assemblies to support the Bill’s passage and affirm Nigeria’s commitment to equity and inclusive governance,” Sanwo-Olu noted.
The communiqué also revealed that the governors received a presentation from the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, represented by Dr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Deputy Governor in charge of Economic Policy.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the briefing outlined ongoing efforts by the apex bank to stabilise the naira, curb inflation, and restore confidence in the financial system.
> “The briefing highlighted recent policy measures, including the tightening of monetary policy, unification of exchange rate windows, and recapitalisation of banks, to enhance liquidity management and consolidate macroeconomic stability,” he said.
The Forum commended the CBN’s collaboration with fiscal authorities and called for continued policy coordination to sustain economic growth and ensure state-level fiscal stability.
> “Governors commended the CBN’s coordinated approach with fiscal authorities and underscored the importance of sustained collaboration to safeguard growth and state fiscal sustainability,” Sanwo-Olu added.
