Intergovernmental Relations and Security Management in Southeast Nigeria: A Study of the Ebube Agu Initiative (2021-2024)

This study examines the intergovernmental dynamics underpinning the establishment and operation of the Ebube Agu security initiative in Southeast Nigeria between 2021 and 2024. The Ebube Agu outfit was jointly established by the five Southeast governors in response to escalating insecurity attributed to unknown gunmen and IPOB-affiliated groups, representing a novel experiment in regional security cooperation. The study is anchored on Cooperative Federalism Theory, which emphasises collaborative intergovernmental arrangements for addressing challenges that transcend individual state jurisdictions. A qualitative research design was employed, combining documentary analysis of official statements, security reports, and newspaper archives with semi-structured interviews of eight informants including security analysts, state officials, and civil society leaders. Findings reveal that while Ebube Agu was conceived as a regional outfit with a joint command structure, its operationalisation has been hampered by coordination failures, funding disparities among member states, and constitutional ambiguities regarding the legality of non-state security formations. The study further finds that local community acceptance of the outfit varies significantly across the five states, with Anambra recording higher public trust than Imo and Ebonyi. It is concluded that the Ebube Agu initiative has produced limited measurable security gains due to structural and coordination constraints in intergovernmental cooperation. The study recommends the establishment of a formal Southeast Security Council with constitutional backing, dedicated funding, and independent oversight.

Keywords: Intergovernmental relations, security management, Southeast Nigeria, Ebube Agu, cooperative federalism