Breaking: Governors endorse establishment of State Police, call for constitutional protections to be put in place

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, comprising the thirty-six state governors, has once again expressed its support for the establishment of state police in the country, emphasizing the need for a constitutionally sound structure that aligns with federalism and citizens’ rights.

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This stance was reiterated at the forum's 2nd meeting in Abuja, which took place from Wednesday to early yesterday, and was disclosed in a communiqué signed by NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

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The governors received a presentation from the forum's secretariat and a delegation of the honourable attorneys-general of the states, focusing on efforts to support the establishment of state police in Nigeria, and resolved to deepen consultations and coordination between states and national institutions.

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AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq disclosed that the governors received briefings on a range of federal and development partner proposals, with a dedicated consultation with the attorneys-general to review the proposed constitutional amendments and frameworks.

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In April this year, the governors had backed the proactive development of a state police framework by the secretariat, which includes key readiness requirements such as governance structures, financing models, human capital standards, digital systems, and oversight mechanisms.

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The framework is designed to prepare for the proposed constitutional amendments, and the governors' support for it underscores their commitment to establishing a state police that is aligned with federalism and citizens’ rights.

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The communiqué, read by Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, noted the collaborative effort and stated that the consultation outcomes would strengthen the states’ collective position on the establishment of state police.

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According to the communiqué, the Forum received a presentation from the NGF Secretariat and a delegation of the Honourable Attorneys-General of the States on efforts to support establishing State Police in Nigeria.

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The governors also reiterated their commitment to ongoing power sector reforms, aiming to expand access to reliable and affordable electricity for Nigerians through strengthened collaboration among stakeholders.

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The Forum received a presentation on the National Solar Super-Grid (NSSG) Initiative, a proposal to expand electricity access through large-scale decentralised solar generation integrated with a national high-voltage transmission network.

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The governors noted the initiative's potential to support industrialisation, improve energy security, strengthen state electricity markets, and accelerate economic growth, and reiterated their commitment to ongoing power sector reforms.

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The Forum also resolved to support the National Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative, reaffirming their commitment to improving nutrition outcomes and reducing child malnutrition across Nigeria.

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The governors noted the ongoing work on the National Nutrition Bill and encouraged continued engagement with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the legal and policy framework for nutrition governance.

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The Forum received a presentation from the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on progress under the National Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative, and reaffirmed the governors’ commitment to improving nutrition outcomes and reducing child malnutrition.

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The Forum also received a briefing from the World Bank Country Office on the proposed Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nigeria covering the period FY2026–2032, and the proposed Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW) Programme.

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The governors supported ongoing collaboration with the federal government, the World Bank, and other stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and deliver benefits to participating states, and approved state-specific interventions.

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The governors stressed the importance of better coordination across sectors like health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, social protection, and family support, to achieve the desired outcomes in nutrition and agriculture.