A former Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs in Kwara State, Raheem Adedoyin, has appealed to Kwara indigenes living abroad to actively support government-led efforts aimed at improving security across the state.
Adedoyin made the appeal while delivering a guest lecture at the 10th Convention of the Kwara State Association of Nigeria (KSANG), North America, held in Baltimore, United States. A copy of his address was later made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday.
Expressing concern over Nigeria’s security situation, he noted that Kwara South and Kwara North Senatorial Districts had experienced some of the worst effects of insecurity. He urged members of the association to contribute to ongoing initiatives designed to restore peace.
According to him, communities have increasingly embraced local security arrangements, making it important for citizens at home and abroad to support these efforts.
He encouraged diaspora members to provide financial assistance, security equipment and other logistical support to complement community-based security initiatives.
Adedoyin also advised them to begin by supporting security efforts within their families, neighbourhoods and communities before extending assistance to larger community projects.
The former commissioner, who serves on the Global Executive Board of the International Press Institute representing Nigeria and Africa, further urged KSANG to collaborate with traditional rulers in strengthening security across the state.
He cited the establishment of a security fund by the Kwara South Traditional Rulers Council, with support from the Kwara South Development Initiative (KSDI) led by Dr Johnson Adewumi, as an example of community-driven intervention.
Adedoyin expressed confidence that the security situation in Kwara would continue to improve, pointing to intensified military operations against criminal groups.
He said the deployment of more sophisticated weapons, alongside the engagement of newly recruited and trained forest guards across local government areas, had strengthened the state’s security architecture.
He also referenced the Federal Government’s recent establishment of a Nigerian Army battalion in Omu-Aran, describing it as another significant step towards enhancing security in Kwara.
According to him, the state currently has more than 1,000 forest guards in active service, while another 1,000 recruits are undergoing processing, a figure he said is unmatched by any other state.
He added that the government was working closely with community organisations to improve local resilience and had increased the deployment of security technology, particularly through the State Security Service.
Adedoyin maintained that sustained collaboration between government, traditional institutions, communities and the diaspora would play a crucial role in overcoming insecurity in the state.
Ex-Kwara Commissioner Calls on Diasporans to Back Kwara’s Security Efforts
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