In a dramatic move triggered by fresh terror warnings, Nigeria’s 36 state governors have entered an emergency pact with the Department of State Services (DSS) to deepen intelligence sharing and tighten security coordination nationwide.
The decision followed a tense meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) that stretched late into Thursday night amid growing fears of coordinated extremist attacks. A communiqué signed by NGF Chairman, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, revealed that the governors were “deeply alarmed” by rising cases of armed violence and inter-communal unrest across several states.
The DSS, led by Director-General Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, briefed the Forum on emerging security threats, warning of new plots by terrorist groups targeting strategic regions — including Kogi and Ondo States. The agency’s intelligence prompted immediate counter-terrorism surveillance in at least 10 states, according to sources close to the meeting.
Reading the communiqué, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said governors pledged “unprecedented cooperation” with the DSS and federal security agencies to avert what insiders described as “a possible wave of coordinated attacks.”
Beyond security, the meeting also spotlighted the upcoming Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB1349), which seeks to reserve special constituencies for women in national and state assemblies. The governors agreed to lobby lawmakers ahead of the November 4–6 vote, describing the bill as “a defining test of Nigeria’s commitment to gender inclusion.”
The Forum also received a crucial briefing from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, on urgent economic stabilisation measures aimed at tackling inflation and rebuilding investor confidence.
Governors applauded the CBN’s reforms — including tighter monetary controls and bank recapitalisation — but warned that worsening insecurity could undermine economic recovery if unchecked.
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