36 State Governors Declare Position On State Police

Governors of Nigeria’s 36 states have thrown their weight behind the establishment of State Police, saying the initiative could help address the country’s growing security challenges if properly structured.

The governors, under the platform of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), announced their position in a communiqué issued after their meeting in Abuja.

Naijapunchnews reports that the communiqué was signed by NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The governors said their support for State Police is based on the need to strengthen security at the grassroots level, but stressed that the system must be backed by constitutional provisions and designed in line with democratic principles, federalism and citizens’ rights.

The decision followed presentations from the NGF secretariat and a delegation of state Attorneys-General on proposed constitutional amendments and frameworks for the creation of State Police.

The governors said they held consultations with the Attorneys-General to review the legal structure required for the establishment of the proposed security arrangement.

“Governors emphasised the need for the State Police to be constitutionally sound and aligned with federalism and citizens’ rights,” the communiqué stated.

They added that the outcome of the consultations would help strengthen the collective position of the states on the matter.

The move comes after the State Police bill passed by the House of Representatives and progressed to second reading at the Senate, bringing renewed attention to calls for decentralising policing in Nigeria.

Supporters of State Police have argued that local security forces would better understand community-specific threats and respond faster to criminal activities.

The governors also discussed other national issues, including electricity reforms and efforts to improve power supply across the country.

During the meeting, they received a presentation on the National Solar Super-Grid (NSSG) Initiative, a proposed project aimed at expanding electricity access through large-scale solar generation connected to a national transmission network.

The forum said the initiative could support industrial growth, improve energy security, strengthen state electricity markets and contribute to economic development.

The governors further reaffirmed their commitment to the National Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative, aimed at reducing child malnutrition and improving nutrition outcomes across all local government areas in Nigeria.

They also welcomed ongoing efforts on the National Nutrition Bill and encouraged continued collaboration with relevant stakeholders to strengthen nutrition policies nationwide.