Governors from Nigeria’s southern states have issued a bold and unified demand for the creation of state police, declaring it a “non‑negotiable” pillar of true federalism and grassroots security.
Meeting on Wednesday at Iperu Remo, Ogun State, under the chairmanship of Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Southern Governors’ Forum gathered key leaders including Rivers State’s Siminalayi Fubara, Abia’s Alex Otti, Ekiti’s Biodun Oyebanji, Ebonyi’s Francis Nwifuru, Enugu’s Peter Mbah, Anambra’s Charles Soludo, and deputies representing Osun, Edo, Oyo, and Cross River.
In his opening remarks, Governor Abiodun painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s security landscape, citing recent mass abductions in schools, religious centres, and rural communities. “No region is immune to organized criminality or violent extremism,” he warned.
While commending President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in orchestrating swift rescues of kidnapped students, Abiodun stressed that deeper reforms were essential.
“The creation of state police remains a non‑negotiable component of our collective demand for true federalism and effective grassroots security,” he declared.
Blueprint for Localized Security
Discussions at the forum focused on decentralising Nigeria’s centralised policing model to better address local threats. Governors proposed an integrated security blueprint that would emphasise:
- Intelligence‑sharing across states
- Early‑warning systems for communities
- Safeguards for schools, farmlands, borders, and critical infrastructure
- Stronger collaboration with traditional rulers, described as vital “links to the grassroots”
The leaders argued that state police would create a system “closer to the people, more responsive to local realities, and better equipped to address rapidly evolving threats.”
By the end of the meeting, the governors adopted a firm resolution prioritising state police as the cornerstone of their collective security agenda.
They pledged to champion the proposal nationally and lobby the National Assembly for constitutional amendments.
The forum also committed to collaborative frameworks that integrate community vigilance and corridor surveillance, aiming to secure a “peaceful and prosperous southern region.”
Nigeria continues to grapple with escalating insecurity, with southern states reporting spikes in kidnappings and violent attacks that have strained federal resources.
If the governors’ synchronized push is sustained, that could make the constitutional changes for decentralized policing easier to push through.
No timeline was set for follow‑up actions, but sources indicate the forum plans to intensify lobbying efforts in Abuja in the coming weeks.
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