The Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA) participated in the Joint Security Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum on Security in the Badagry General Area, organized by the Joint Border Security Committee (JBSC) in conjunction with Badagry Local Government and the Local Council Development Areas of Badagry Division.
The strategic security engagement, which held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Fadesh Hotel Conference Hall, Badagry, brought together heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, government officials, community leaders, and critical stakeholders from across the Badagry/Seme border corridor to discuss emerging security challenges and strengthen collaborative efforts toward maintaining peace and stability in the region.
BACCIMA President, Alhaji Yahaya Oladiran Idris was represented at the forum by a distinguished member of BACCIMA Executive Council Mr. Eugene Ihezuonu, alongside the Administrative Officer of the chamber, Mr. Olawale Shittu, reaffirming the Chamber’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote security, economic growth, and sustainable development within Badagry Division and its environs.
The forum was convened by the Joint Border Security Committee, a platform established to foster cooperation among security agencies and stakeholders operating within the Badagry/Seme border area. According to the organizers, the Committee seeks to coordinate operations, facilitate intelligence sharing, resolve operational challenges, and enhance stakeholder engagement in order to safeguard the border region as a critical national asset.
The event attracted an impressive array of security chiefs and senior government officials, including representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Forest Guards, and other relevant security organizations.
Several revered traditional rulers and royal fathers from across Badagry Division were also in attendance, underscoring the importance of community participation and traditional institution involvement in addressing contemporary security concerns.
Speaking during the engagement, Hon. Hunpe emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in addressing security concerns, noting that sustainable peace can only be achieved through cooperation between government, security agencies, and local communities.
According to the Council Chairman, security is not solely the responsibility of law enforcement agencies but a shared obligation that requires vigilance, trust, and active participation from all stakeholders.
“The security of our communities cannot be outsourced. It begins with all of us, government, traditional institutions, security agencies, youth groups, and residents working together with a common purpose. When communities are vigilant and stakeholders are united, criminal elements find it difficult to thrive. Security is everyone’s business, and peace remains the foundation upon which development is built,” Hon. Hunpe stated.
He further commended the Joint Border Security Committee for providing a platform for meaningful dialogue and stakeholder engagement, stressing that regular consultations remain essential to addressing emerging security threats and strengthening public confidence.
During the engagement, speakers highlighted the need for enhanced intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, community vigilance, and sustained stakeholder cooperation in responding to evolving security threats within the South-West region and the wider border communities. Participants emphasized that security remains a collective responsibility requiring the active involvement of government institutions, security agencies, traditional authorities, the private sector, and residents alike.
The forum further provided an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships, and explore practical strategies aimed at preserving peace, protecting lives and property, and creating an enabling environment for trade, investment, and economic prosperity in Badagry.
As a leading voice of the organized private sector in the region, BACCIMA commends the Joint Border Security Committee and its partners for organizing the engagement and remains committed to supporting initiatives that enhance security, facilitate commerce, and promote sustainable development within the Badagry border corridor.
