By Abiola Olawale
A total of sixteen states have given their approval for the establishment of state police.
It was gathered that the sixteen governors have submitted their reports to the National Economic Council (NEC), recommending changes to the constitution to allow for the creation of state police.
The reports were amongst documentation received at the 140th NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, on Thursday.
However, the statement failed to reveal the names of the 16 states that have approved the creation of state police. NEC is still awaiting reports from 20 states. It expressed confidence that others would support it.
The New Diplomat reports that NEC was established by the provisions of section 153(1) and Paragraphs 18 & 19 of part I of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Its membership comprises the 36 state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank, and other co-opted government officials.
Disclosing discussions at Thursday’s NEC, the Vice president’s spokesman, Nkwocha said, the “Secretary to NEC (Mr. Nebeolisa Anako) made a presentation on submissions by states on the state policing initiative. Reports have been received by 16 states on the establishment of State police. 20 states have yet to send a report. All states across the country expressed their support for the establishment of state police for the following reasons.
“States made presentations in support of the creation of state police. States recommended changes in the constitution and the current policing structure to enable the operationalization of the initiative.”
This comes weeks after the Federal and state governments, on February 16, 2024, resolved to develop modalities to create state police to tackle the country’s security crisis.
The New Diplomat reports that the idea of creating state police in Nigeria had been on the table for a while. Many have argued that the decentralization of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), will address the unique security challenges across the country’s diverse regions.
However, some Nigerians had also kicked against the idea on the grounds that state police could lead to abuse of power, particularly in states with strong political control.
