Governors of Nigeria’s 36 states have reached a consensus on establishing state police as part of efforts to address the country’s ongoing insecurity challenges. This decision was among the resolutions from Thursday’s National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, briefed journalists after the meeting, confirming that submissions on state police had been received from all states except the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He explained that the NEC secretariat would engage stakeholders further and present a comprehensive report during the council’s next meeting in January.
Governors Sani noted that most states support the creation of state-controlled police forces, citing the need to address unique security challenges in their regions and the inadequacies of the current centralized policing system. He emphasized that a decentralised security framework would allow states to tailor measures to their specific needs, enhancing citizens’ safety.
“Virtually all 36 states have made their submissions, and most are in agreement on the establishment of state police. Considering the ungoverned spaces across Nigeria and the lack of personnel in existing security agencies, state police is seen as a practical solution to insecurity,” Sani said.
The push for state police has gained momentum as states struggle with rising insecurity exacerbated by limited security agency resources. Governor Sani pointed out that the current deficit in personnel across the police, army, and other agencies has left many areas vulnerable, making decentralised policing essential.
However, the NEC decided to defer final deliberations until its next meeting to allow the secretariat to compile and present a detailed report based on the states’ submissions. The council also resolved to conduct further stakeholder engagements to refine the proposal.
The initiative reflects a growing recognition of the need for tailored security approaches to address Nigeria’s complex and region-specific security challenges.
