Governors of Nigeria’s 36 states have reaffirmed their support for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to strengthen security and improve law enforcement across the country.
The position was reached during a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, and was contained in a communiqué signed by the Forum’s Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
According to the governors, the proposed state policing system must be backed by constitutional provisions and implemented in a manner that upholds the principles of federalism, accountability, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
The communiqué revealed that the governors arrived at the decision after receiving presentations from the NGF Secretariat and a delegation of state Attorneys-General on ongoing efforts to establish state police in Nigeria.
The governors noted that decentralizing policing could help address growing security challenges by allowing states to play a more active role in maintaining law and order within their jurisdictions.
The renewed endorsement is expected to further advance discussions between the federal and state governments on the legal and operational framework required for the implementation of state policing in the country.
