The National Economic Council (NEC) has once again deferred discussions on the establishment of state police, despite escalating insecurity in several parts of Nigeria.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, state governors, and ministers, who convened on Thursday, could not address the pressing issue due to time constraints after a lengthy meeting.
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, who spoke to reporters after the meeting, confirmed that the topic was included in the agenda but was not deliberated upon due to extensive presentations made during the session. He assured that the issue would be thoroughly discussed in the next NEC meeting.
This delay marks the third time NEC has postponed deliberating on state police, despite growing calls for it, particularly after the majority of state governors expressed support for its implementation in a December 2024 meeting. The issue had been raised in previous months, including during a February meeting, but further discussions were deferred, with officials citing the need for more deliberation among stakeholders.
Meanwhile, as security concerns continue to mount, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has decided to set up a sub-committee to collaborate with security agencies in efforts to combat insecurity.
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State revealed that the committee would explore technology-driven solutions to address the nation’s security challenges.
In a related development, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, announced that the Nigerian Armed Forces had eliminated over 1,770 terrorists and arrested more than 3,000 suspects across the Northwest states in the past three years. The military has also seized hundreds of weapons in its ongoing operations.
Additionally, Nigeria has adopted the Counter Terrorism Technology (CT-TECH+) initiative, a joint effort with the UN and Interpol, aimed at enhancing the country’s response to terrorism, particularly through the use of emerging technologies.
This two-year initiative, which was launched in collaboration with the European Union, aims to bolster the security capabilities of Nigeria and its partners in the Sahel region.
