By Tobias Nduddi
AbdulRahman
AbdulRazaq and the governors of Nigeria’s 36 states have
jointly backed the creation of state police, describing it as a key step
towards improving security across the country.
The decision was reached
during the second meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF)
in Abuja, which lasted late into the night and continued into the early hours
of Thursday. While several national matters were discussed, the issue of state
policing took centre stage as governors searched for practical ways to address
growing security concerns in different parts of the country.
In a communiqué issued
after the meeting and signed by AbdulRazaq, who chairs the forum and is also
the Governor of Kwara State, the governors said they had reviewed recent
developments aimed at making state police a reality.
According
to the forum, members received detailed briefings from the NGF Secretariat as
well as a team of state Attorneys-General. The presentations focused on the
work already being done to support the introduction of state police and the
legal steps required to bring the proposal into effect.
The
governors made it clear that although they support the idea, any state police
system must be properly guided by the Constitution. They stressed that clear
legal safeguards must be put in place to protect citizens’ rights and ensure
accountability.
The
meeting also examined proposals for constitutional changes and operational
guidelines that could provide a framework for how state police would function
if eventually approved.
Speaking
on the outcome of the discussions, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun
said members of the forum carefully considered a range of issues affecting the
country before reaching their position on state policing.
He
explained that governors agreed the proposal could play an important role in strengthening
security nationwide. However, he emphasised that the structure must be
thoughtfully planned and implemented to avoid future challenges.
Beyond
security, the governors also discussed electricity reforms and
nutrition-related matters. Nevertheless, the debate on state police dominated
proceedings, reflecting the urgency many state leaders attach to finding new
solutions to Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
With the governors now openly backing the proposal,
attention is expected to shift to the constitutional amendments and legal
framework needed to turn the long-debated idea into reality.
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