Nigerian Governors Seek State Police to Tackle Insecurity

Governors from across Nigeria have called for the establishment of state police, arguing it is essential to effectively combat rising insecurity and would give them the operational authority needed to fulfill their roles as chief security officers. The calls were made during a town hall summit on national security held in Abuja this week, where governors from Enugu, Zamfara, and Anambra states presented a united front in support of decentralizing the country's policing system.

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, speaking on Thursday, emphasized that any legal framework for state police must balance national standards with local capability and decision-making. He stressed that adequate funding and investment in modern technology are critical for success, proposing that a State Police Service Commission should have a first-line charge on state revenue to ensure financial autonomy. Mbah pointed to his own state's experience, recalling that upon taking office in 2023, Enugu faced severe security challenges, including enforced sit-at-home orders that disrupted life and education. He said a significant investment in a Safe City Surveillance System with AI-enabled CCTV cameras and the...