Governors of the 19 Northern States, under the aegis of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), in collaboration with traditional rulers from the region, have called on the National Assembly to expedite legislative processes for the establishment of state police in Nigeria.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Forum and the Northern States Traditional Rulers’ Council, held at the Council Chamber of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna. The meeting, which focused extensively on regional security and development, was attended by all 19 Northern governors and the chairmen of the respective traditional rulers’ councils.
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who presented the communiqué, emphasized the Forum’s unwavering support for the creation of state police as a means to tackle the region’s persistent security challenges.
“The Forum reiterated its support for the creation of the State Police and called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the enactment of the legal framework for its take-off,” Yahaya said.
The Forum also resolved to collaborate more closely with national security agencies and other stakeholders in bolstering security efforts across the region.
“We resolved to liaise with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to work out modalities of how to increase support to the Federal Security Forces,” Yahaya stated, adding that the governors will also “strengthen peculiar local initiatives in combating all forms of security challenges.”
As part of broader security strategies, the Forum announced plans to establish inter-state platforms to enhance surveillance along shared borders. “The Forum further resolved to urgently set up inter-state platforms to coordinate surveillance on our joint borders,” Yahaya said.
In his remarks, Yahaya commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued commitment to addressing security and infrastructural deficits in Northern Nigeria.
The governors and traditional rulers also highlighted the importance of unity and collective action in addressing developmental issues. “The Forum acknowledges the critical role of nonpartisan cooperation, collaboration, and peer review in effectively addressing the numerous developmental challenges confronting the northern region and the nation at large,” Yahaya noted.
The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge by the governors and traditional leaders to work in synergy towards sustainable peace, security, and development in Northern Nigeria.
