By Richard Benjamin
The 36 state governors under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have renewed their call for the establishment of state police, insisting that any framework for decentralised policing must include constitutional safeguards to protect citizens’ rights and uphold the principles of federalism.
The governors made their position known following meetings held on June 17 and 18, where they discussed security challenges facing the country and ongoing constitutional amendment efforts at the National Assembly.
In a communiqué issued after the meetings, the governors said state police had become necessary to address growing security threats, including banditry, kidnapping, insurgency and other violent crimes affecting communities across the federation.
“Governors emphasised the need for the State Police to be constitutionally sound and aligned with federalism and citizens’ rights,” the forum stated.
The renewed demand comes as the National Assembly continues consideration of constitutional amendments that would allow states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
Supporters of the proposal argue that state police would improve response times, strengthen intelligence gathering and provide more effective community-based policing by officers familiar with local environments and security challenges.
However, concerns have been raised by critics who fear that state police could be misused by political leaders. To address such concerns, lawmakers are considering provisions that would establish state police service commissions, federal oversight mechanisms and uniform operational standards across the country.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has previously expressed support for reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture, including discussions on decentralised policing.
The debate over state police has intensified amid persistent security challenges in several parts of the country, with many stakeholders calling for reforms that would improve public safety while ensuring accountability and respect for constitutional rights.
Deliberations on the proposed amendments are expected to continue in both chambers of the National Assembly, with advocates hopeful that a final framework could emerge later this year.
