Nigeria’s president offers glimmer of hope on state owned police

Pushes sub-national authorities to back hunter, forest corp

The much agitated for state owned police for Nigerian tier one sub-national authority appear to be getting closer to reality after President Bola Tinubu said it would be discussed at the National Economic Council, NEC.

Mr Tinubu made this known while urging the 36 state governors (sub national) to back the newly formed Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) in their respective states.

According to the president, the measure is meant to curb growing insecurity across the country.

Tinubu made the appeal at a crucial meeting with governors of the 36 states at the State House Abuja on Friday.

There had been arguments that conventional policing in Nigeria can’t solve the myriads of crime and insecurity being suffered in the country.

Proponents of State police have stated that state funded police force peopled with personnel aboriginal to the state could help manage the situation.

They also argue that such security structure aligns with the agitation for restructuring of the country in the model of ‘true federalism’.

Although the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service Establishment Bill awaited the assent of the President, Tinubu, urged state governors to provide logistics as well as operational equipment to enable hunters undertake the onerous task of safeguarding the forests from marauding elements.

Key highlights of the meeting with state governors which is contained in a 6-point resolution as compiled by the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, portrayed the fact that activation of hunters in the country was an urgent necessity.

” On addressing insecurity which is also affecting farming and food production, President Tinubu made 3 key pronouncements.

” More police personnel to be recruited  to strengthen the force.

President Tinubu informed the Governors that the Federal Government will work with them and the National Assembly towards putting in place a mechanism that will engender state police instead of the vigilantes that are being used in some states.

The President charged the Governors to strengthen hunters in their own states and arm them to keep all the forests safe from criminals. Modalities for State Police and addressing security issues to be discussed further at National Economic Council. ”

Governors of Bauchi, Bornu, Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe and some others in the Northeast region have blazed the trail in the provision of operational vehicles, payment of allowances, financial supports and other logistics to hunters in their respective states.

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