Governors Debate State Police: A Necessary Risk with Demanded Safeguards

Nigeria's 36 state governors, under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), have unanimously expressed support for the immediate establishment of state police, advocating for constitutional safeguards to guide its implementation. This pivotal decision reflects a growing consensus that state policing is inevitable, driven by the nation's escalating and diversified security challenges. However, the governors have raised significant concerns regarding the proposed framework, particularly the requirement for National Assembly approval for individual states to set up their police forces, which they believe could undermine autonomy and responsiveness.

A primary demand from the governors is the transfer of policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, allowing state Houses of Assembly to legislate on state police. They argue that a framework requiring subnational heads to individually seek approval from the National Assembly would invite politicization and hinder the effectiveness of local security responses. Funding also emerged as a critical issue, with the proposed three percent Federation Account allocation deemed insufficient by some governors to cover salaries, equipment, and training for new recruits.

The NGF, led by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, received a presentation from its secretariat and a delegation of State Attorneys-General, leading to dedicated consultations to review proposed constitutional amendments and frameworks. The governors emphasized that state police must be constitutionally sound and aligned with federalism and citizens' rights. The framework highlights key readiness requirements, including robust governance structures, sustainable financing models, human capital standards, digital systems, and effective oversight mechanisms.

The push for state police comes after decades of debate, with insecurity finally becoming a universal problem. A single, centralized police force based in Abuja has proven inadequate for a nation of over 220 million people spread across diverse terrains, where security challenges vary from banditry in Zamfara to cult violence in Rivers, farmer-herder conflicts in Benue, and kidnapping along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor. Proponents argue that security is most effective when managed by those who understand the local terrain, communities, and can gather intelligence swiftly, while being directly accountable to the people they serve.

While the proposed legislation attempts to build safeguards, fears persist about potential abuse, specifically that governors might weaponize state police against political opponents. To mitigate these risks, additional safeguards are deemed imperative: transparent and competitive appointments for senior positions with fixed tenures, rigorous legislative scrutiny and public reporting of state police budgets, establishment of independent civilian complaints bodies, diverse recruitment reflecting local demographics, periodic federal and judicial reviews, and severe constitutional consequences for misuse of state police powers. It is also acknowledged that no policing architecture can fully compensate for decades of social and economic neglect, emphasizing the need for broader governance solutions.

Beyond state policing, the governors reiterated their commitment to ongoing power sector reforms, aiming to expand access to reliable and affordable electricity for Nigerians. They specifically noted the potential of the National Solar Super-Grid (NSSG) Initiative to support industrialization, improve energy security, strengthen state electricity markets, and accelerate economic growth. The NGF also resolved to support the National Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative to improve nutrition outcomes and reduce child malnutrition, encouraging continued engagement on the National Nutrition Bill to strengthen governance frameworks.

In response to prevalent insecurity, various authorities and groups have taken specific actions and voiced concerns. In Edo State, Governor Monday Okpeholo advocated for special courts to fast-track trials for kidnappers and cultists, expressing readiness to sign death warrants immediately. He warned criminals to avoid Edo State, highlighting the arrest of a 45-year-old woman, Oluchi Ugbowan, who staged her own abduction to extort N50 million, leading to the recovery of a pump-action gun.

Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural group, urged the federal government to take decisive action against insecurity, particularly addressing bandits from the northern parts of the country impacting the South. They lamented recurring abductions of school children and traditional rulers in Yorubaland, citing incidents like the abduction of the monarch of Odo-Oriya and attacks in Oyo State, which they view as an embarrassing mockery of authority.

Similarly, the Yoruba for Democratic Values (YDV) called for unity among political leaders, traditional rulers, and citizens across Yorubaland to combat the worsening security situation, including kidnappings and violent attacks in states like Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Kwara.

The Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) demanded accountability for the Safe Schools Initiative, questioning its achievements over a decade after its launch, given the continuous attacks on schools and abduction of schoolchildren nationwide, which cause immense trauma and anxiety for communities.

In Kwara State, a recent rumour of bandit invasion in Ilorin caused widespread panic, leading parents to hurriedly withdraw their children from schools. The Kwara State Police Command promptly debunked the alarm as false, condemning the spread of unverified information and announcing efforts to identify and prosecute the individual responsible for inciting public disorder. Separately, the Kwara Police Command achieved a significant breakthrough by arresting a suspected supplier of food items and other materials, including assorted cigarettes and rations, to bandits operating in forested enclaves. The suspect was found with military camouflage and incriminating photos, reinforcing the police's commitment to dismantling the logistical and support networks sustaining criminal activities across the state.