The National Economic Council (NEC) has issued a deadline for all states in Nigeria to make their positions known regarding the creation of state police forces.
At a recent meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, NEC gave the 36 states of the federation until September 9, 2024, to submit their stance on this issue, which has been widely debated in recent years as a solution to Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
State police have been a major topic of discussion in Nigeria for some time, with calls for its establishment growing louder amid increasing incidents of kidnapping, banditry, and other forms of criminal activity across the country.
Many believe that allowing states to form their own police forces would help address the security challenges more effectively, as local forces would be more familiar with the terrain and the people they are tasked to protect.
Supporters of state police include key political leaders, state governors, and regional socio-political organizations like Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
They argue that the federal police force is overstretched and unable to provide adequate security for every region in the country.
The push for state police reached a significant milestone in February 2024 when President Bola Tinubu and the governors of all 36 states agreed that establishing state police could be a viable solution to the nation’s worsening security problems.
Shortly after this agreement, 16 state governors submitted their reports to NEC, expressing support for the establishment of state police and proposing constitutional amendments to make it possible.
Since then, more states have also submitted their positions to NEC, with only four states yet to make their stance known.
Speaking to journalists after the NEC meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Acting Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, provided updates on the progress.
He revealed that 32 states had already made their submissions on state police, while four were yet to do so.
“NEC has directed that the four states that are yet to submit their stance must do so by Monday, September 9, 2024,” Lawal said.
“Any state that fails to make a submission by that date will have no choice but to accept whatever decision is made by NEC.”
Lawal did not name the four states that were still to make their submissions, but he emphasized the importance of the deadline, noting that the process was moving forward, and decisions would soon be made.
The call for state police has grown as Nigeria’s security problems have worsened in recent years.
In many parts of the country, particularly in the north, banditry, kidnappings, and terrorist activities have become common.
Many Nigerians believe that the federal police, with their central command structure, are too far removed from local realities to provide effective security in every region.
State governors have increasingly voiced their concerns about their limited power to control security in their territories.
Under the current structure, governors are often referred to as the “chief security officers” of their states, but they have little direct control over the police force.
This has led to frustration as governors struggle to address security issues without the necessary authority to act.
A governor from the southwest, speaking at a security summit in early 2024, said: “We need state police to handle security at the grassroots level.
“The federal police cannot be everywhere at the same time, and they do not know the local communities like we do. It’s time for a change.”
Despite widespread support, the proposal to establish state police is not without its critics.
Some fear that creating state-controlled police forces could lead to abuse of power by governors, who might use the police to target their political opponents or silence dissent.
A prominent political analyst in Lagos explained: “There is a legitimate concern that some state governors could misuse the police to harass their political enemies.
“This is a real issue in a country like Nigeria, where political rivalry can be intense.”
Additionally, funding for state police has been raised as a potential challenge.
Many states are already struggling to manage their budgets, and critics argue that setting up and maintaining a state police force could place an additional financial burden on states.
Some governors have suggested that if state police were established, there would need to be an upward review of federal allocations to states to help cover the costs.
“The states that are advocating for state police will need to be prepared to bear the financial responsibility that comes with it,” said an economic expert during a television interview. “It’s not just about setting up the police force, but also ensuring they are properly funded, trained, and equipped.”
