The National Economic Council, NEC, on Thursday postponed deliberations on the creation of state police, despite a significant spike in violence across several states of Nigeria.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State revealed to reporters that state policing was on the agenda but could not be discussed due to time constraints during the council’s 149th meeting held at Aso Rock Villa.
“State police was part of our agenda today,” Diri explained.
“But unfortunately, because of time demands, and after a very long meeting, the presentations could not get to that point.”
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NEC meetings are customarily held on the last Thursday of each month, although recent months have seen irregular gatherings.
Since the council’s last session in December, discussions around police reform and decentralisation have repeatedly been postponed, raising concerns among advocates of state policing.
Despite all 36 states submitting supportive reports for a decentralised police structure, detailed discussions have not progressed beyond preliminary mentions.
The council last sat in February 2025, and again failed to address the matter of state policing amid rising insecurity.
At the meeting on Thursday, governors observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of recent attacks in Plateau, Benue, Borno, and Enugu states.
Simultaneously, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, announced measures to confront the worsening security situation, including plans to recruit more security personnel.
A communiqué issued by the forum and read by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, outlined the forum’s resolutions following an earlier meeting in Abuja.
Uzodimma disclosed that a committee had been set up to work directly with security agency heads to formulate a joint action plan to stem the violence.
Recent violence has included the killing of at least 15 individuals in March in Benue’s Katsina-Ala Local Government Area by suspected herdsmen.
On April 14, an attack in Zike hamlet, Plateau State, left at least 52 people dead, including an entire family of eight, with homes and farmland razed.
In response, the governors called for urgent intervention and pressed national security operatives to intensify countermeasures in affected areas.
General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, presented a new initiative aimed at bolstering early threat detection and coordinated security response through technology.
The proposal involves phased deployment of surveillance infrastructure and advanced monitoring tools across Nigeria to improve crisis management.
“The project envisions the phased deployment of advanced technology and infrastructure,” Uzodimma said.
“Governors expressed support and underscored the importance of technology-driven solutions.”
The forum also discussed a land reform partnership with the federal government to stimulate economic growth and boost internally generated revenue.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, made a presentation on the Renewed Hope housing programme and land registration reforms.
Governors welcomed the plan, which aims to formalise land ownership, strengthen tenure security, and support investment in urban planning.
Another presentation focused on electricity reforms through a proposed partnership with Powercom Smart Grid Nigeria Limited.
Under this deal, PSGN would take over operations in selected distribution companies, deploy smart grid systems, and build a metering factory.
Governors are expected to study the proposal further, particularly its implications for energy access, job creation, and debt relief at state level.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, reaffirmed support for state policing, stating it would help address insecurity at grassroots levels.
Sani told journalists, “It’s not an indictment on us. But the Constitution limits what we as governors can do.”
He added that Kaduna has seen no communal or religious violence under his tenure, crediting inclusive leadership and proactive measures.
Despite progress, he emphasised that insecurity persists due to inadequate manpower among security forces, estimating less than 400,000 police for 230 million Nigerians.
“There are a lot of ungoverned spaces,” he said.
“We need both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.”
He called for national unity and inter-agency cooperation, urging leaders to avoid blame games in addressing the nation’s security woes.
