Governors across Nigeria’s 36 states have renewed their demand for the establishment of state police, emphasizing that any new policing structure must be anchored on constitutional provisions, uphold citizens’ fundamental rights, and reflect the principles of true federalism.
The position was reached during the meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), held in Abuja on Wednesday and extending into the early hours of Thursday. The governors said the growing security challenges facing the country have reinforced the need for a more decentralized policing system capable of responding swiftly to local threats.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governors revealed that they received detailed presentations from the NGF Secretariat and state attorneys-general on the progress made towards establishing state police formations across the federation.
The discussions focused on the constitutional amendments and legal frameworks required to create state-controlled police services while maintaining national security coordination and accountability mechanisms. According to the governors, the proposed system must operate within clearly defined constitutional boundaries to prevent abuse of power and protect democratic values.
Reading the communiqué, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State said the governors agreed that any state police arrangement must be consistent with Nigeria’s federal structure and guarantee the protection of human rights and civil liberties.
The governors noted that consultations with state attorneys-general and legal experts are helping to build a common position among states on the modalities for establishing and regulating state police. They expressed confidence that the ongoing engagement would strengthen proposals before the National Assembly and ensure that the eventual framework addresses legal, operational, and funding concerns.
The renewed campaign for state police comes against the backdrop of escalating insecurity across various parts of the country. Nigeria continues to grapple with banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, armed robbery, communal conflicts, farmer-herder clashes, and other security threats that have stretched the capacity of existing federal security agencies.
Many stakeholders have argued that a centralized policing system is no longer sufficient to effectively tackle security challenges in a country as large and diverse as Nigeria. Advocates of state police believe that officers recruited from local communities would possess better knowledge of the terrain, language, culture, and security dynamics of their respective states, thereby enhancing intelligence gathering and rapid response capabilities.
The governors recalled that in April this year, they endorsed the development of a comprehensive framework for state police by the NGF Secretariat as part of preparations for constitutional reforms. The framework reportedly covers critical areas such as governance structures, operational guidelines, funding arrangements, recruitment standards, training requirements, digital technology deployment, and oversight mechanisms to ensure professionalism and accountability.
The campaign has also gained momentum at the federal legislative level. Recently, the House of Representatives advanced several constitutional amendment bills seeking to legalize the creation of state police and establish state security councils. The bills are expected to undergo further legislative scrutiny before any final decision is taken.
Supporters of the initiative argue that state police could significantly improve security management and strengthen grassroots policing. However, critics have raised concerns that state governors could misuse such forces for political purposes, particularly during elections and political disputes. To address these fears, proponents insist that strong constitutional safeguards, independent oversight bodies, and transparent operational guidelines must be incorporated into the framework.
The governors reiterated that their support for state police is not merely about creating another security institution but about building a policing system that is accountable, effective, and responsive to the unique security realities of each state while preserving national unity.
As constitutional amendment discussions continue, the push for state police is expected to remain one of the most significant governance and security debates in Nigeria, with far-reaching implications for federalism, public safety, and democratic accountability.
