Ola Akinwunmi
The National Economic Council (NEC) has deferred discussions on state police until its next meeting, despite the recent surge in violent attacks and killings in parts of the country. Bayelsa Governor, Duoye Diri, disclosed this after the council’s 149th meeting at the Aso Rock Villa. The governors observed a minute of silence to honor those killed in the recent wave of attacks in Plateau, Benue, Borno, and Enugu States.
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has emphasized the need for increased recruitment into security agencies and the adoption of technology-driven solutions to tackle killings at the state level.
The NGF has set up a committee to collaborate with security agency heads on a joint strategy to address the surge in killings. The forum also received a presentation on an innovative security initiative aimed at strengthening national and subnational capacity for early threat detection and coordinated response.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, emphasized the importance of state policing in Nigeria, stating that it would go a long way in addressing insecurity, particularly at the sub-national level. He challenged security agencies to step up the fight against criminality, arguing that more boots are needed on the ground to rout attackers.
The NEC’s decision to postpone state police talks has sparked concerns about the country’s ability to address the growing security challenges. The NGF’s proposed solutions, including increased recruitment and technology-driven approaches, may help mitigate the situation, but the need for a more comprehensive solution, such as state policing, remains a pressing issue.