The National Economic Council (NEC) has set a deadline of September 9 for five regions—Kwara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Adamawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)—to submit their proposals for establishing state police forces.
News About Nigeria reports that this announcement was made by Bayo Lawal, Acting Governor of Oyo State, after a NEC meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Lawal warned that the council will take necessary actions if the affected states fail to meet the deadline.
“An update on the establishment of state police was considered, and this was as a result of the security situation challenges that we have across the nation in north-east, north-central, south-west, south-east, and south-south,” he said.
“Today, all the states were supposed to submit their reports for consideration by the NEC. Incidentally, four states couldn’t submit.
“NEC decided that those states must make their submissions on or before Monday, September 9th; otherwise, whatever decision NEC takes on the establishment of state police is binding on those states that refuse to make submissions.”
In mid-February, the federal government established a committee to investigate the possibility of establishing state police forces nationwide.
However, by March, the National Economic Council (NEC) reported that 20 states had still not submitted their required reports on the proposed state police setup.
The last few years have been dominated by talks about state police, with some leaders, including governors and regional socio-political groups like Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, saying it would curb the menacing trend of kidnapping, banditry, and sundry crimes.
The calls for the creation of state police prompted President Bola Tinubu and governors of the 36 states to reach an agreement in mid-February 2024.
They agreed on state police as a method to curb the escalating security challenges in the country.
