…Demand Constitutional Safeguards Against Abuse
…Insist on True Federalism, Protection of Citizens’ Rights
By Jeremy Fregene
Nigeria’s governors have intensified the push for the creation of State Police, declaring that any new policing structure must be firmly rooted in the Constitution, reflect the principles of true federalism, and contain safeguards against violations of citizens’ fundamental rights.
The position was adopted at the meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) held in Abuja on Thursday, where state chief executives disclosed that consultations were already underway with the Attorneys-General of the 36 states to develop a common legal and constitutional framework for the proposed reform.
The governors said the ongoing review is aimed at ensuring that State Police emerges as a credible, accountable, and effective security institution capable of addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges without undermining democratic freedoms.
The resolutions of the meeting were contained in a communiqué signed by the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and read by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State.
According to the communiqué, the forum received a detailed presentation from the NGF Secretariat and a delegation of state Attorneys-General on efforts being made to advance the establishment of State Police across the federation.
Abiodun said the governors carefully reviewed proposals for constitutional amendments and implementation frameworks designed to provide the legal foundation for the initiative.
“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.
“It noted a dedicated consultation with the Attorneys-General to review the proposed constitutional amendments and frameworks.
“Governors emphasised the need for the State Police to be constitutionally sound and aligned with federalism and citizens’ rights.
“The forum noted the collaborative effort and added that the consultation outcomes would strengthen the states’ collective position,” he said.
The latest intervention by the governors comes amid increasing national debate over the effectiveness of Nigeria’s highly centralised policing system, with many stakeholders arguing that state-controlled police formations would improve intelligence gathering, response times, and community-based security operations.
Beyond security, the governors also reviewed several socio-economic initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians, particularly in the areas of nutrition, agriculture, and electricity supply.
On health and human development, the forum reaffirmed its commitment to tackling child malnutrition and improving nutrition outcomes across the country.
The governors received a progress report from the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on the National Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative and expressed support for ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s nutrition governance framework.
Abiodun said the forum acknowledged work being done on the proposed National Nutrition Bill and encouraged wider engagement with stakeholders to ensure a stronger legal and policy foundation for nutrition programmes.
The governors also endorsed measures aimed at boosting food security, expanding agricultural value chains and increasing access to reliable electricity.
In that regard, the forum received a briefing from the World Bank Country Office on the proposed Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nigeria covering the period 2026 to 2032, as well as the Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW) Programme.
According to the governors, the AGROW initiative is designed to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen value chains, deepen private sector participation, enhance food security and support early childhood development.
The forum expressed support for continued collaboration between states, the Federal Government, the World Bank and other development partners to ensure successful implementation of the programme and maximise benefits for participating states.
Governors also approved state-specific interventions and stressed the need for stronger coordination among sectors such as health, education, nutrition, water and sanitation, social protection and family support services.
On the country’s persistent energy challenges, the forum considered a presentation on the National Solar Super-Grid (NSSG) Initiative, a proposal aimed at significantly expanding electricity access through large-scale decentralised solar generation linked to the national transmission network.
The governors said the project holds significant potential for boosting industrialisation, strengthening energy security, expanding state electricity markets and accelerating economic growth.
They consequently reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing reforms in the power sector and pledged continued collaboration with relevant stakeholders to improve access to reliable and affordable electricity for millions of Nigerians.