Nigerian governors back state police, constitution amendment

Governors of the 36 states in the country, under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, have thrown their weight behind the establishment of state police.

The governors expressed this support after their second meeting held in Abuja, which stretched from Wednesday into the early hours of Thursday.

They, however, stressed that any new policing structure must be backed by clear constitutional provisions and must protect citizens’ rights.

DAILY POST reports that the meeting focused on major national issues, including security, electricity reform, and nutrition.

However, discussions around state policing dominated deliberations as insecurity continues to remain a pressing concern across many parts of the country.

According to a communiqué signed by the NGF Chairman and governor of Kwara state, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governors disclosed that they reviewed fresh progress made toward creating a workable state police system.

The Forum said members received detailed presentations from the NGF Secretariat and a delegation of state Attorneys-General on the ongoing efforts to support the establishment of state police across Nigeria.

The governors said the discussions also involved consultations aimed at reviewing proposed constitutional amendments and operational frameworks that would guide implementation.

Speaking after the meeting, Dapo Abiodun said governors agreed that state policing remains an important step in addressing security challenges, but insisted that the structure must be carefully designed.

“We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, at our meeting held today, deliberated on issues affecting the country,” Abiodun said.

After the deliberations, the Forum received a presentation from the NGF Secretariat and a delegation of the Honourable Attorneys-General of the States on efforts to support establishing State Police in Nigeria. 

The Forum also noted a dedicated consultation with the Attorneys-General to review the proposed constitutional amendments and frameworks.