The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday postponed discussions on the creation of state police to its next meeting, despite ongoing violence and unrest in parts of the country.
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, speaking to State House Correspondents after the council’s 149th session at Aso Rock Villa, confirmed that while the topic was listed on the agenda, it wasn’t addressed in detail due to time constraints.
“State police was on today’s agenda, but unfortunately, due to time limitations and the length of the meeting—we’ve been in there for quite a while—we couldn’t reach that point in the discussions. I can assure you, however, that the issue will be thoroughly discussed in our next meeting,” the governor stated after the nearly four-hour session.
Although he did not provide a specific date for the next meeting, NEC gatherings are typically held on the last Thursday of each month.
However, the council’s meetings have been irregular in recent months. Since its last session in December, the long-anticipated debate on police reform has been repeatedly postponed. All 36 states have submitted reports in support of a decentralized policing structure, but discussions were pushed to January 2025. When the council reconvened in February, the topic was again left untouched.
During the meeting, governors observed a minute of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the recent wave of violent attacks across Plateau, Benue, Borno, and Enugu States.
At the same time, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum underscored the urgent need for increased recruitment into security agencies and the implementation of technology-driven strategies to address killings at the state level.
Chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the forum shared these resolutions in a communiqué delivered by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma after their early Thursday meeting in Abuja.
Uzodinma explained that, as an immediate response to the escalating violence, the governors have established a committee to collaborate with the heads of security agencies to develop a unified strategy.
Following the killing of at least 15 people on March 9 in a renewed spate of attacks—reportedly by suspected herdsmen—in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, several other communities have been targeted in subsequent incidents.
One of the deadliest occurred on April 14, when an assault on Zike hamlet in the Kimakpa community of Kwall District, Irigwe Chiefdom, Bassa LGA of Plateau State, claimed at least 52 lives, including an entire family of eight. Numerous properties were also set ablaze.
In light of these tragedies, the 36 state governors have called for immediate, decisive action, urging security agencies to take proactive steps in addressing the nation’s worsening security situation.
The Imo governor said, “The forum received a presentation from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, on an innovative security initiative aimed at strengthening national and subnational capacity for early threat detection and coordinated response.
“The project envisions the phased deployment of advanced technology and infrastructure to improve surveillance, crisis management, and public safety. Governors expressed support for the initiative’s objectives and underscored the importance of technology-driven solutions in addressing evolving security challenges at the state level.
“The forum set up a subcommittee of the Nigeria Governors Forum to work with heads of security agencies on a collaborative approach for immediate solutions.’’
He further stated, “The forum received a presentation from the Hon. Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, on unlocking the economic potential of land through a federal-state partnership for land reform.
“The minister outlined ongoing housing initiatives under the Renewed Hope Programme and proposed a comprehensive land registration reform to formalise land ownership, enhance tenure security, and boost internally generated revenue across states.
“Governors welcomed the ownership, enhanced tenure security, which would boost internally generated revenue across states. Governors welcomed the initiative, noting its potential to catalyse investment, improve urban planning, and enhance land-based revenue generation.”
Uzodimma also said the forum received a presentation on a proposed strategic partnership with Powercom Smart Grid Nigeria Limited.
