The United Nations has been overwhelmed with complaints that Nigeria is fast becoming a police state.
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said the federal and state governments will work with the National Assembly to fast-track action on the creation of state police, as insecurity continues to threaten lives and economic activities in the North-East.
Tinubu stated this while receiving North-East governors at the Presidential Villa, following renewed Boko Haram attacks that have undermined gains in the region.
Presenting the challenges on behalf of the governors of Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, and Bauchi, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum highlighted porous borders, unmanned forests, deserts, and difficult terrain that make effective monitoring of insurgent activities nearly impossible. He warned that some areas previously recovered from Boko Haram had recently fallen back into insurgent hands.
The president acknowledged the difficulties faced by the governors but commended their collaboration with the federal government in tackling insecurity.
“We know it cannot be eliminated with the snap of the fingers,” Tinubu said. “Progress is being made, and we should continue to collaborate.”
Tinubu said his administration was re-examining the option of state police in light of community efforts against insecurity.
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“I have been looking at the security situation more carefully. I have seen civilians, joint task forces, and communities reacting to security challenges. That provoked my thinking about state police again,” he said.
“Politics apart, we can engage the National Assembly leadership to critically examine the path to achieving this. State police, indigenous to communities, can provide additional safety buffers and effectiveness.”
He added that the government would continue investing in infrastructure, education, and healthcare, stressing that unity between federal and state governments remained key to building “the Nigeria of our dreams.”
Governor Zulum, in his presentation, appealed for continued military operations around Lake Chad, Dajin Madama, Mandara Hills, Sambisa Game Reserve, Mansur, Yelwa, Futuk, Kolmani, Karin Lamido Forest, and other areas. He also called for funding support for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to sustain operations in the Lake Chad region.
On infrastructure, the governors urged completion of ongoing road projects and the construction of new roads connecting their states. They also called for the resumption of oil exploration in frontier wells, particularly in Kolmani and Lake Chad.
