The Federal Government alongside the governments of the 36 federation states are considering the creation of state police to tackle rising cases of insecurity across the country.
This followed an emergency meeting between President Bola Tinubu and state governors at the Aso Rock Villa on Thursday.
President Tinubu informed the Governors that the Federal Government will work with them and the National Assembly towards putting in place a mechanism that will engender the envisaged state police instead of the vigilantes that are being used in some states.
President Tinubu in company of Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House met with the 36 States Governors and the FCT Minister where they agreed on common ground to addressing some of the challenges currently facing the country especially the rising cost of food and insecurity.
On rising cost of food, the President directed that the State Governments and Federal government should collaborate to increase local food production, advising against the idea of food importation and price control when local food producers should be encouraged to produce more food.
He also advised the Governors to follow the example of Kano State in dealing with hoarding of food for profiteering by commodities merchants even as he directed the Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser, Department of State Services to monitor warehouses hoarding food items across the country and stop profiteering by merchants.
Also in the state police, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who addressed stated house correspondents said that the process is still in its infancy and would only take shape after more deliberations between stakeholders.
He said, “There is also a discussion around the issue of state police. The federal government and the state governments are mulling the possibility of setting up state police.
“Of course, this is still going to be further discussed. A lot of work has to be done in that direction. But if our government and the state governments agree to the necessity of having state police, this is a significant shift.
“Like I said, more work needs to be done in that direction. A lot of meetings will have to happen between the Federal Government and dissolved nationals to see the modalities of achieving this.”
The Daily Crucible reports that the debate for the creation of state police in Nigeria followed the observed inadequacies of the centralised nature of the Nigerian Police Force, which is perceived by many Nigerians unwieldy in addressing the unique security challenges across the country’s diverse regions.
The proponents argue that the outfit would bring law enforcement closer to the communities they serve, enhance the effectiveness of policing, and allow for more localised control over security matters.
However, those who are against the idea fear that state police could lead to abuse of power, particularly in states with strong political control, potentially exacerbating regional tensions and undermining national unity.
However, the minister revealed that the government will recruit a yet-to-be-disclosed number of personnel to “improve the numeric strength of forest rangers. To train them so that they can keep our forests and our borders very safe.”
