Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy and Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has raised the alarm that rapid population growth and unchecked migration now constitute the most dangerous security threats confronting Nigeria’s Southwest region.
Speaking on Friday at the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on National Security Summit organised in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, Daniel said while the Southwest has managed national security turbulence better than most regions, its internal demographic crisis is “a ticking time bomb.”
The former Ogun State governor noted that the region’s ability to contain insurgency, banditry and kidnapping has often been commended, but warned that the gains could be undermined by uncontrolled influx of migrants who enter without documentation, proper tracking or integration.
“When we look at the state of security in the nation, I think the South West has done considerably fairly, and that I believe is commendable,” Daniel said.
“But population explosion remains the biggest challenge that plagues the Southwest.”
He explained that the region’s rapid economic growth continues to draw thousands of migrants weekly, many of whom live under the radar, making the zone vulnerable to crime, communal tension and infiltration by criminal elements.
Daniel described Lagos as the “most volatile” state in terms of population pressure, but warned that neighbouring Ogun State is already showing similar patterns, especially with its fast-growing border communities.
He stressed the need for modern technological surveillance, data-driven population management systems, and massive infrastructure upgrades to help government monitor movement, identify threats early and address the socioeconomic triggers of migration.
The summit, chaired by Senator Tokunbo Abiru, brought together key stakeholders including federal lawmakers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and heads of security agencies.
Security institutions represented at the high-level meeting included the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Lagos Neighbourhood Watch, and the Peace Corps of Nigeria, among others.
The broad participation, Daniel said, reflects the seriousness of the security situation and the growing consensus that technology, community engagement and multi-agency collaboration are crucial to safeguarding the region’s future.
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