The National Economic Council (NEC) has set a deadline for all states to submit their positions on the proposed establishment of State Police.
This decision was announced by Adebayo Lawal, Acting Governor of Oyo State, following the 144th NEC meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Lawal, states that have not yet submitted their reports on the State Police proposal must do so by September 9th.
He emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, “NEC decided that all states must make their submissions by Monday next week; otherwise, whatever decision NEC takes on the establishment of State Police will be binding on those states that fail to submit.”
The push for State Police comes in response to widespread security challenges across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Lawal explained, “At today’s NEC meeting, an update on the establishment of State Police was considered due to security challenges across the nation – North-east, North-west, North-central, South-west, South-east, and South-south – to ensure robust security nationwide.”
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Currently, four states – Adamawa, Kebbi, Kwara, and Sokoto – along with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have yet to submit their reports.
The NEC’s decision highlights the importance of comprehensive input from all states in shaping this critical security policy.
The establishment of State Police has been a topic of ongoing debate in Nigeria, with proponents arguing it would improve local security responses, while critics express concerns about potential misuse by state governments.
