Senator Gbenga Daniel warns that population explosion and unregulated migration are the biggest threats to Southwest Nigeria’s security, despite the region’s relative stability
Population Explosion, Uncontrolled Migration Fueling Security Fears in Southwest — Senator Gbenga Daniel
Senator Gbenga Daniel, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy and Senator representing Ogun East, has warned that Nigeria’s Southwest region faces its most significant security threat yet—rapid population growth and uncontrolled migration—despite its relative success in managing national security challenges.
Speaking on Friday at the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on National Security Summit held in partnership with the Lagos State Government, Daniel commended the region for maintaining comparative stability. Still, he cautioned that demographic pressures could undermine that progress.
“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 noted, citing the region’s resilience amid widespread insecurity in other parts of the country.
However, he described a growing paradox: while the Southwest has avoided the worst of insurgency, banditry, and mass kidnappings, its rapid development continues to attract large, unregulated migration flows.
“Population explosion remains the biggest challenge that plagues the Southwest,” Daniel said, stressing that the influx of undocumented migrants is creating security vulnerabilities that could be exploited for criminal activity.
He identified Lagos State as the hub of the migration surge, calling it “the most volatile” in terms of population pressure. Ogun State, he warned, is not far behind as it increasingly absorbs spillover migration from neighbouring Lagos.
Daniel said the situation demands urgent attention to prevent escalation, especially as population-driven pressures combine with ongoing issues such as farmer-herder clashes, kidnapping, terrorism and banditry.
The former Ogun State Governor emphasized the need for strategic investments in modern technology and infrastructure, describing them as essential tools for population monitoring and management, migration tracking, strengthening security intelligence, and enhancing community-based security interventions.
He stressed that without these measures, the region risks being overwhelmed by its growing demographic complexities.
The summit—chaired by Senator Tokunbo Abiru—brought together key stakeholders across government, security agencies, and traditional institutions. Participants included representatives of Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Peace Corps of Nigeria, Traditional rulers and religious leaders.
The wide representation, Daniel noted, underscores the urgency of building coordinated, multi-sectoral responses to emerging security challenges facing the Southwest. Read More
