Governors Push State Policing Plan Forward as Lawmakers Prepare Review

State governors across Nigeria have taken a major step toward reshaping the country’s security system by forwarding a detailed proposal on the creation of state-controlled police units for legislative consideration.

The initiative, coordinated under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, was submitted to the National Security Adviser, who is expected to transmit the document to the National Assembly for further action. The move reflects ongoing consultations among security agencies and government stakeholders on how to decentralize policing in the country.

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, explained that the submission represents the governors’ contribution to a broader national discussion on improving internal security. He noted that the proposed framework is intended to serve as a foundation for laws that would enable individual states to establish and manage their own police structures.

The governors emphasized that the plan is part of wider efforts to address rising insecurity, including terrorism and other criminal activities. They also pledged to strengthen collaboration with existing security agencies while pursuing reforms aimed at bringing law enforcement closer to local communities.

The proposal comes amid increasing calls for changes to Nigeria’s centralized policing system, which many believe has struggled to respond effectively to localized threats. While supporters argue that state police would enhance rapid response and community-based intelligence, critics have raised concerns about potential misuse by state authorities.

With the document now set to reach federal lawmakers, attention is expected to shift to the National Assembly, where debates on constitutional amendments and safeguards for the proposed system are likely to intensify in the coming months.