Governors Seek Stronger Legal Framework For State Police

Governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), have renewed their push for the establishment of state police, stressing the need for a stronger legal framework and constitutional safeguards to ensure the proposed security architecture aligns with the principles of federalism and the protection of citizens’ rights.

The governors made their position known in a communiqué issued at the end of the Forum’s second meeting of 2026, and signed by the Chairman of the NGF and governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

According to the communiqué, the forum received a presentation from the NGF Secretariat and a delegation of state Attorneys-General on efforts aimed at supporting the creation of state police across the country.

The governors noted that a dedicated consultation had been held with the Attorneys-General to review proposed constitutional amendments and operational frameworks for state policing.

They emphasised that any state police arrangement must be constitutionally sound and consistent with the principles of federalism and the rights of citizens.

The forum said the outcomes of the consultations would help strengthen the collective position of the states on the matter.

Beyond security, the governors reaffirmed their commitment to tackling child malnutrition, following a presentation by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on progress made under the National Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative.

They also noted ongoing work on the National Nutrition Bill and called for sustained engagement with stakeholders to strengthen the legal and policy framework for nutrition governance.

The forum also received a briefing from the World Bank Country Office on the proposed Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria covering the 2026-2032 fiscal period and the proposed Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW) Programme.

The governors backed continued collaboration among the federal government, the World Bank and other stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of the initiatives and approved state-specific interventions under the programmes.

They stressed the need for improved coordination across sectors including health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, social protection and family support.

On energy, the governors considered a proposal on the National Solar Super-Grid Initiative, which seeks to expand electricity access through large-scale decentralised solar generation integrated with a national high-voltage transmission network.

The forum noted that the initiative has the potential to boost industrialisation, improve energy security, strengthen state electricity markets and accelerate economic growth.

The governors reiterated their commitment to ongoing power sector reforms and pledged to continue working with relevant stakeholders to expand access to reliable and affordable electricity for Nigerians.