₦airaland Forum

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has reaffirmed its unanimous support for the establishment of state police as a measure to tackle the escalating security crisis across the region and the country at large.

The forum’s position was disclosed on Thursday by Isma’ila Uba Misilli, Director-General of Press Affairs to the NSGF Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya. He noted that the 19 northern governors had already adopted the proposal during a meeting with traditional rulers in Kaduna earlier this year.

“They unanimously adopted it and asked the National Assembly to expedite action. So now it’s not within their mandate, but with the National Assembly to provide a law for its establishment. The forum is fully in support of the creation of the state police,” Misilli said.

The renewed backing comes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu restated his commitment to establishing state police as part of broader security reforms. It also follows growing calls from northern groups for urgent measures to curb rising insecurity.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) recently warned that northern communities had been “pushed to the wall” and must defend themselves, while the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) urged Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on security. Governors from the six North-East states also met with the president in Abuja this week, decrying the worsening violence in their region.

While many stakeholders agree on the need for decentralised policing, concerns persist over how state police would operate. The ACF, though cautiously supportive, stressed that constitutional procedures must be followed to avoid abuse.

ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, said funding remains a major question:

“Do you see how some states have issues with salary payments to civil servants? How well prepared are states to fund state police when created? What will happen if state police operatives with arms are not paid at the end of the month?”

He also cautioned that state police must not be weaponised by governors against political opponents, a fear echoed by several critics.

Former Kaduna senator, Shehu Sani, also voiced skepticism, warning that those calling for state police may regret the move:

“When the President finally approves the state police, you will know the difference between the Federal and the State Police. Enjoy the buffet,” he quipped.

Anthony Sani, former ACF Secretary General, outrightly opposed the plan, arguing that unless new forces are properly funded, trained, and motivated, they will be no more effective than the current federal structure.

The push for state police is evidence of the desperation of leaders seeking fresh solutions to banditry, insurgency, and communal clashes that have devastated northern Nigeria. But the sharp divisions over funding, political misuse, and operational structure underscore the challenges ahead.

With both the presidency and the NSGF aligned, the matter now lies with the National Assembly, which must undertake the constitutional amendments needed to make state policing a reality.

zeuss:
The north used to be at the fore front of posing as a stumbling block to any suggestion for the introduction of state police but alas they no longer hold the aces and the failed quota structures the encouraged has exposed them terror thus the are pushing for it now. Evil wind never blows anyone good ultimately.

thesicilian:
Seems Tinubu is one by one carrying out the much needed reforms without making noise about it.

Ttalk:
I know some people who will be jittery with this news, anything that has to do with regionalism or true federalism is a no go area for them

Either they like it or not, Nigeria will operate as a true federalism or regionalism so we can identify the leeches that always claiming developers.

They condermn state vat collection.

They go against tax reform bill

They have now surged their heads to condemn state police.


Nigeria is not a. Unitary system, if you want good governance, create one

Ruke1990:
These northern politicians have evil intentions beneath this open support. They may be looking for a state police they can use for 2027 election rigging since it will be under their control. Tinubu has completely emasculated them and strapped them of their electoral value. I guess they are seeking to use the state police for a come back.
Northern politicians are not known to supporting good things. So this calls for suspicion of their true motives. Northern politicians who even lied that no more insecurity under buhari are now shouting everywhere about insecurity. Their brand of politics is unfortunate one

omenka:
I am a thousand percent opposed to this idea. Nigerians have proven. Time and again to be very poor handlers of power. I prefer at this stage we keep dealing with One Emperor (anyone who is the president) as against 35.

We've not grown to such extent we can moderate our use of constitutional powers on the people. Until such a time comes, count me out of this.

Mrexcell:
Tinibu is not in a hurry to create state police he doesn't want to loose his total grip over security in nigeria.

chiiraq802:
It's really a nice initiative... but mk some of our governors no com use dem dey overdo.

Mrexcell:
Whatever their real motives are tinibu should use the advantage to create it immediately without wasting any more time it will surely benefit the entire south and even the middle belt more when a fulani man who is well known for abusing power becomes president again it will become a kind of buffer to their excesses a lot of state governors really suffered when buhari was president they couldn't do anything to stop fulaniherdsmen from massacring their people because buhari vehemently refused to give the orders for nigerian security agents to go after them.

AhmedPeacemaker:
https://politicsnigeria.com/northern-governors-back-tinubu-on-creation-of-state-police-amid-worsening-insecurity/

Ezewuzie01:
State police is very necessary but there should be threshold that the states must meet to have their own police eg funding, training, equipment, political neutrality clauses etc.