Amid the persistent insecurity across various regions of Nigeria, the federal government seems to have embraced the concept of establishing state police. During a meeting attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and 36 state governors, along with the national security adviser (NSA), the inspector-general of police (IGP), the director-general of the Directorate of State Service (DSS), and several ministers at the State House in Abuja, a committee was formed to lay the groundwork for implementing state police.
President Bola Tinubu, through his presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, endorsed the formation of a committee comprising state governors and federal government representatives to explore the procedures for setting up state police. Additionally, he supported the training and outfitting of forest rangers by sub-national governments to protect local communities’ human and natural resources.
The discussion on decentralizing the policing structure has gained momentum amidst escalating security challenges in Nigeria, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, rustling, and communal violence. Notably, there have been recent calls for this decentralization, even from the Governor of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
President Tinubu stressed the need for proactive measures to address the nation’s food security challenges, advocating for schemes that support local production and discourage reliance on food importation. He expressed concern about reports of hoarding food in warehouses and emphasized the role of security agencies in addressing such issues.
Furthermore, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of implementing livestock development and management plans, including dairy farming, while urging governors to entrust the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with managing the country’s monetary policy effectively.
The meeting underscored the necessity of collaboration between the federal government and state governments in addressing issues of insecurity, food security, and education. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, also the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), expressed appreciation for President Tinubu’s initiative and reaffirmed the governors’ commitment to cooperating closely with the federal government.
Meanwhile, the Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) criticized state governors for failing to fulfill their constitutional duties and relying solely on the federal government to alleviate economic challenges. Despite increased revenue allocation resulting from the removal of petrol subsidies, the IMPI argued that most states have not adequately improved the lives of their residents. They highlighted discrepancies between revenue allocation and poverty, unemployment, and inflation rates in various states, particularly those controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In summary, the IMPI defended President Tinubu’s policies, refuting comparisons to Venezuela’s economic situation and commending his efforts to implement measures aimed at averting such crises.