Nigeria at Crossroads: Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) Calls for Urgent Action on Security, Restructuring
The Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) held an emergency meeting on June 18, 2025, to discuss the state of the nation, focusing on national security and the need for restructuring. The meeting culminated in a communique that outlines the forum’s concerns and proposals for addressing the country’s challenges.
Full Text Below:
BEING THE COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN AND MIDDLE-BELT LEADERS FORUM (SMBLF) ON THE STATE OF THE NATION
1.00 PREAMBLE
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN AND MIDDLE-BELT LEADERS FORUM (SMBLF) ON THE STATE OF THE NATION, HELD ON WEDNESDAY 18TH JUNE 2025.
1.00 PREAMBLE
1.00 PREAMBLE
1.01 At the Emergency Meeting of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) held on Wednesday the 18th day of June 2025 issues on the state of the Nation were discussed at the end of which this Communique was issued.
2.00 National Security.
2.01 The Federal Government of Nigeria and particularly the National Assembly must now accept their failure to provide the most fundamental security of life and property across the country whilst we witness the impunity of Fulani terrorists and their foreign collaborators wrecking genocidal attacks on indigenous communities across the nation and particularly in the Middle Belt region as happening currently in Benue state.
2.02 For the umpteenth time, SMBLF calls on the President and the National Assembly to rise to their constitutional responsibility and duty to protect life and property of Nigerians as we propose as follows:
(1) That the Nigerian federation should ensure enhanced autonomy of the federating states such that each state shall have its own independent Police Command with complimentary Divisions at the Local Government and community levels.
(2) That all police officers from the rank of a Chief Superintendent and below should be deployed within their state of origin.
(3) That MBLF condemns the planned National Forest Guards as an additional Federal Security structure in the states and DEMANDS that all security institutions or formations apart from the armed forces, police, civil defence and the State Security Services should be part of the security architecture of the states, more so as lands and forests are exclusive constitutional prerogatives of the federating states.
(4) That SMBLF condemns the rituals of fire-brigade deployment of members of the armed forces to troubled areas spread across the country as ineffective and put unnecessary pressures on the military from its constitutional roles of defending the nations territorial integrity.
(5) That pending full-fledged restructuring towards true federalism, governments of the states of the federation should take immediate measures to provide security for their people in the nature of the Amotekun South West Security Network with the full compliments of weapons to face and deter insurgency and terrorism.
(6) That these security measures are considered more effective than the current unitary architecture in a Federation which renders Governors as Chief Security Officers of their states only in name.
(7) That states with prevailing culture of animal husbandry and with the assistance of the Federal Government should encourage ranching within their territories but the SMBLF REJECTS unequivocally the re-introduction of RUGA or howsoever described with a view to discriminatingly acquire land in states for private businesses as being now illegally proposed for Plateau State. It is an invitation to occupation of indigenous people’s lands for nomadic Fulani herds families in Nigeria and beyond.
(8) That Government should immediately liberate occupied communities by terrorist herdsmen and put an end to the shameful policy of creating IDP Camps for indigenous peoples while their communities are taken over by invaders including foreign nationals.
(9) That the President and the National Assembly should treat these issues with the utmost urgency it deserves such that Nigeria as a sovereign state shall be saved the unenviable image of a banana and prospective failed State
10. That these proposals should be the irreducible minimum as the alternative to calling out the people to take their destinies in their hands and procure instruments of self-defence from wherever possible if this carnage persists.
3.00 EMERGENCY RULE IN RIVERS STATE.
3.01 SMBLF reiterates that the state of emergency declared in Rivers State is illegal and of no utilitarian value in a democratic state and calls that it be immediately terminated particularly because of the irreversible damaging effects it portends for our democratic journey and welfare of the people generally.
3.02 SMBLF considers any appointment into state agencies and Local Governments or attempts to conduct elections by the military Administrator as illegal and that Rivers State be returned to normal democratic dispensation without further delay.
3.03 SMBLF also calls on the National Assembly to uphold their oversight responsibilities with dignity and without compromise. Attempts by the Interim Administrator to impose his choices on the constitutional structures of the State must not be tolerated as such actions will be perceived as prejudicing amicable resolutions and prematurely ambushing democratic freedom of citizens of the State.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
Delegates in attendance:
1. H. E Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State—–Afenifere
2. Chief Nnia Nwodo
Former President-General, Ohanaeze.
3. Hon Bassey Ekefre
Deputy National Chairman, Pandef
4. Prince Okey Nwadinobi.
Deputy President-General
5. Chief Sola Ebiseni
Secretary General, Afenifere.
6. Mr Luka Binnyat –
National Publicity Secretary, Middle Belt Forum.
7. H.E Emeka Sibeudu
Secretary-General, Ohanaeze.
8. Mark Jacob Nzamah Esq, National Legal Adviser, Middle Belt Forum.
9. Engr Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack.
National Secretary, Pandef.
10. Emmanuel Alamu
National Organising Secretary, Middle Belt Forum.
Signed:
1. Afenifere -HRM Oba Oladipo Olaitan
2. Middle Belt Forum -Dr. Bitrus Pogu
3. Ohanaeze Ndigbo World-Wide -Senator John Azuta-Mbata
4. PANDEF…Amb. Godknows Igali.