Rising insecurity: 16 Nigerian Governors endorse State Police

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this shortly after 140th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held virtually.

Sixteen state governors have reportedly embraced the idea of establishing state police to tackle the menace of rising insecurity ravaging the country.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this shortly after 140th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held virtually.

Briefing State House Correspondents, the Minister said that the governors made their decisions in report submitted to the Council during the meeting chaired by Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

Although he didn’t name the 16 governors, he said out of the 36 states, 20 state governors and the FCT were yet to make their submissions.

The minister revealed that the 16 governors also called for the review of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

In the meantime, NEC has also received the abridged report of the ad-hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control.

The committee identified the areas of oil leakages in the oil industry while observing cases of infractions.

The committee chaired by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state calls for political will to effect changes and reforms.

There has been clamour for state police as Nigeria grapples with worsening security challenges such as kidnapping and banditry.

Governors elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on February 12 reiterated their position on state policing.

The governors had maintained that state police is the solution to the country’s worsening security situation, lamenting that Nigeria is “almost on the road to Venezuela”.

Also, regional socio-political groups such as Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum, and the Northern Elders’ Forum, have repeatedly called for state police as a solution to the myriad of increasing security challenges confronting the nation.

Already, states in the South-West geopolitical zone have formed the Amotekun while their counterparts in the South-East also created a security outfit Ebube Agu. The Benue Guards has also been operational in Benue State in the North Central while states like Katsina, Zamfara, and other bandit-prone sub-nationals have also come up with similar state-established outfits.

However, these outfits have not been as effective as anticipated as they do not have the backing of the Federal Government. States continue to demand that Amotekun, Ebube Agu, and others be granted license to bear assault rifles like AK-47s to confront lethal gun-toting marauders.

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