Sixteen state governors have backed the establishment of state police to the in the reports to the National Economic Council.
The Special Adviser to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
The reports were received at the 140th NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Nkwocha explained that the Secretary to NEC, Nebeolisa Anako, made a presentation on submissions by states on the state police initiative.
The governors equally recommended changes to the constitution to allow for the creation of state police.
“States made presentations in support of the creation of state police. States recommended changes in the constitution and the current policing structure to enable the operationalisation of the initiative,” Nwokocha said.
No details were given about the specific states.
Spokesperson to the Vice President promised that the total number would be presented at the next NEC meeting even as “the compilation is still going on”.
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party had on February 12 affirmed their position on state policing as the solution to the country’s worsening security situation, lamenting that Nigeria is “almost on the road to Venezuela”.
Also, regional socio-political groups such as Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum, and the Northern Elders’ Forum, have repeatedly called for state police as a solution to the myriad of security challenges confronting the nation.
