Govs to FG: We want state police, constitute a 6 man committee to actualise their demand
The Nigerian Governors Forum has urged the Federal Government to take action on the creation of state police in the country.
According to Daily Trust, the NGF demanded this at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja late Wednesday night during a meeting with the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
The governors constituted a six-man committee to actualise the demand.
They also asked the IGP to present the demand to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for action, saying “it is important for the nation.”
The committee, which has representatives from the six geo-political zones, is also expected to devise the best way of policing the nation.
Addressing State House reporters after the closed-door meeting, the chairman of the NGF, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, said the IGP sought their support for the introduction of media outfits, radio and television for the Force.
“The Inspector General of Police dominated the whole day of our discussion understanding what the issue of police is into the system whereby in some other nations it is ten to one person but in Nigeria we have four hundred to one. So, they are having so many difficulties in funding which we are agreed that with the way things are going through the budgeting process, we cannot be able to fund police.
“So, the Inspector General of Police made us to know that there is a kind of trust fund bill which is before the National Assembly, asked for our support and the members of the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives.
“On our own part, we have put a committee in place. It is headed by the governors of Kwara, Imo, Delta, Ekiti, Bauchi and Sokoto to lead the committee so that they can be able to interface with the committee of Police and take the matter before the Acting President for further action. It is important for our nation.
“And as well, there is the issue of kind of state police which is being discussed and we are coming with so many options which we are expecting the committee will do the and find safe way of policing in Nigeria,” Yari stated.
Also speaking, the IGP noted that the security situation in the country required collective efforts, saying he met the governors in furtherance of the efforts towards addressing the challenges in the police unit.
“We had a fruitful discussion with them and obviously all of them are concerned about security in some parts of the country, virtually in all parts of the country. They are ready to support the Police Force to see how we can address some of the challenges.”
The IGP also spoke on Osinbajo’s charge for a security beef-up in parts of Nigeria, saying “it is a normal procedure, when we have challenges, we normally reinforce. Having insecurity all over the country requires the participation of every citizen of this country. We have to put our heads together to address all the security challenges.
“The governments are doing well, they are trying to bring communities closer and I think it takes a long time but by and large, with the cooperation of community members and all the security agencies we have met to synergies.”
Source: Daily Trust
