- Nigeria's governors forum in a meeting has set up a committee to look at the possibilities of adopting state police in the country
- Present at the meeting which was held at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, was Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris who came to make a presentation to the Governor's forum
- The IGP was there to canvas for support to introduce media outfits, radio, and television for the force
Nigeria's governors forum has on Wednesday July 19 set up a six man committee to explore the option of actualizing state police in the country.
The committee which has in its ranks representatives from the country's six geo-political zones was mandated to come up with a blue print on state policing in efforts to turn around security challenges facing the country.
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Vanguard reported that the governor's reached this position after a closed-door meeting which has in attendance Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.
Chairman of Governors Forum and Zamfara state Governor, Abdulaziz Yari disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting.
He said: “We discussed and we received presentation from the Inspector General of Police. He made a presentation to us canvassing for the support to introduce media outfits, radio and television for the force and as well the Police to go technologically from the manual of doing things.
“The Inspector General of Police dominated the whole day of our discussion today 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.
“In 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 coming with so many options which we are expecting the committee will do the and find safe way of policing in Nigeria .”
The IGP while speaking on the outcome of the meeting with the governor's forum said: “Our efforts to address some of 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.”
Going further, the IGP also spoke on on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo's charge for reinforcements in the security apparatus of the country.
He said: “Obviously it is a normal procedure, when we have challenges we normally reinforce.
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“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.”
NAIJ.com had reported that Zamfara state Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, has emerged the new chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
Yari emerged the forum's chairman by consensus at the end of the meeting held in the Lagos/Osun Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
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