Security Challenges: We Need State Police Now, Northern Governors, Monarchs Tell NASS

In the face of recurring violence, terrorism, and banditry that have claimed countless lives and displaced thousands of their people, the state governors and traditional rulers in northern Nigeria have called for the creation of state police.

Governors of the 19 northern states and chairpersons of the Traditional Rulers Council in the region urged the National Assembly (NASS) to expedite action on the enactment of the legal framework for its take-off.

The northern leaders who met in Kaduna yesterday agreed that security challenges facing the region had reached a boiling point and required immediate action, noting that the establishment of state police should no longer be ignored.

In a communique they issued at the end of the joint meeting, which was signed by the chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the eminent northern leaders resolved to liaise with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) to work out modalities on how to increase support for the federal security forces

The communique said the forum also agreed to strengthen particular local initiatives to combat all security challenges.

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It further resolved to urgently set up inter-state platforms to coordinate surveillance on “our joint borders.”

According to the communique, the forum commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sustained commitment to addressing the region’s security challenges and infrastructural deficits.

The communique acknowledged the resurgence of Boko Haram activities in some parts of the North East and violent killings in the North Central and called for an immediate review of strategies and greater synergy among federal, state, and local security structures.

In his speech during the joint meeting, the governors who condemned the recent killings in Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Borno and Yobe States, stressed the urgent need to redouble security efforts and ensure that adequate security measures were vigorously implemented for the safety of the people.

Governor Inuwa commended President Tinubu for his sustained commitment to Nigeria’s security even as he acknowledged the recent setbacks in efforts to combat insecurity and other social vices.

He said the resurgence of Boko Haram activities in some parts of the North East and the outbreak of violent killings in the North-Central call for immediate review of strategies and greater synergy between federal, state and local security architectures.

The forum expressed concern over the state of infrastructure in Northern Nigeria. It said that while work had resumed on the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway project, other projects, such as the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line, Kano-Maiduguri expressway, and Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu expressway, which were awarded in the past, remain in a serious state of neglect.

“In the same vein, no state of the North-East was captured in the Federal Government’s superhighway project. We must therefore explore innovative financing options, including public-private partnerships and infrastructure bonds, to bridge this gap and lay a solid foundation for agricultural production, industrialisation and growth,” Governor Inuwa said.

He also addressed economic issues, saying the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC), which was once a symbol of Northern Nigeria’s economic pride, needed proper restructuring, competent leadership and effective oversight so that it could be restored as a catalyst for regional development.

As the rainy season approaches, the NSGF chairman emphasised the need for proactive measures to prevent farmer-herder conflicts and to address climate-related challenges such as floods and droughts.

He called for close collaboration with agencies like NEMA, NiMet, and other stakeholders to establish early warning systems and implement sustainable solutions to boost agricultural output and food security.

Governor Inuwa reaffirmed the forum’s commitment to advocating for a constitutional role for traditional rulers to enhance their contribution to peacebuilding and community development.

In his welcome address, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani urged northern governors and traditional leaders to swiftly develop a comprehensive roadmap to tackle the region’s security, governance, and developmental issues.

“We have made progress on several fronts, but challenges persist. I urge us to accelerate the creation of a practical roadmap that addresses security, peace, governance, and development in Northern Nigeria. Furthermore, we must ensure the roadmap is followed through with a clear implementation and funding strategy. Our people expect results, and time is not on our side,” Governor Sani said.