Insist state policing must align with federalism, citizens’ rights as governors deepen talks on constitutional review, energy transition, agriculture, social protection

The 36 state governors under the umbrella of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum have renewed their support for the establishment of state police and sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s power sector, signalling fresh momentum for key constitutional and economic restructuring efforts.

The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Forum’s second meeting held on Wednesday, where the governors deliberated on security, energy, nutrition, agriculture and development partnerships affecting the country.

According to the communiqué, the governors engaged in extensive consultations with Attorneys-General across the states to review proposed constitutional amendments relating to state policing and other governance reforms.

They stressed that any framework for state police must be “constitutionally sound, consistent with federalism, and protective of citizens’ rights,” adding that ongoing legal consultations would help shape a unified and stronger position for the states ahead of national engagement.

The Forum noted that the collaborative review process with legal advisers was already producing inputs expected to strengthen the collective stance of states on security restructuring in the country.

On social development, the governors received a presentation from the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on progress under the National Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative, aimed at tackling malnutrition at the grassroots.

They reaffirmed their commitment to improving nutrition outcomes across Nigeria, particularly in reducing child malnutrition, and expressed support for the ongoing consideration of the National Nutrition Bill.

The governors also called for sustained engagement with stakeholders to strengthen the legal and institutional framework guiding nutrition governance nationwide.

In another briefing, the Forum was updated by the World Bank Country Office on the proposed Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nigeria (FY2026–2032), alongside the Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW) Programme.

The AGROW initiative is designed to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen value chains, attract private sector investment, improve food security, and support early childhood development interventions across participating states.

The governors expressed support for continued collaboration with the Federal Government, the World Bank and development partners, while endorsing state-specific interventions aimed at ensuring effective implementation and measurable impact.

They further urged stronger inter-sectoral coordination in health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, and social protection systems to improve outcomes for citizens.

On energy reform, the Forum considered the National Solar Super-Grid (NSSG) Initiative, a plan to expand electricity access through decentralised solar generation integrated into a national transmission backbone.

The governors noted the initiative’s potential to improve energy security, deepen industrialisation, strengthen state electricity markets and accelerate economic growth across the federation.

Reaffirming their commitment to power sector reforms, the governors pledged sustained collaboration with stakeholders to expand access to reliable and affordable electricity, describing energy reform as central to job creation, productivity and national development.

The meeting ended with a renewed resolve by the governors to deepen cooperation on reforms seen as critical to economic stability, security restructuring and improved welfare for Nigerians.

Operatives of the Iru Ekun Security Network have arrested two suspected kidnappers and rescued two abducted residents during a forest operation in Ora-Igbomina, Osun State.

The victims, who were reportedly abducted by gunmen on Tuesday and taken into a nearby forest, regained freedom after members of the local security outfit launched a coordinated search operation following distress reports from residents.

A third victim, however, remained in captivity as of Thursday, with efforts ongoing to secure the person’s release.

According to a statement issued by the outfit, the rescue operation followed intelligence received on June 9 that three residents had been forcibly taken away by armed men in the community, triggering fears among locals already worried about rising insecurity in rural areas.

Residents were said to have spent anxious hours hoping for the victims’ safe return before the intervention by the security operatives.

During the operation carried out on Wednesday, the outfit said its operatives tracked the suspects into a forest around Ora-Igbomina, where two suspected kidnappers were overpowered and arrested.

The security outfit disclosed that two victims were rescued unhurt and immediately evacuated to safety.

The team leader of the network claimed that the suspects confessed during preliminary interrogation to being nationals of the Republic of Niger.

The suspects were later handed over to officers of the Nigeria Police Division, Oke-Ila, Osun State, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Founder of the outfit, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, commended the operatives for what he described as discipline and professionalism during the mission.

He said the security network was created to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies, especially in rural communities where delayed emergency response often leaves residents vulnerable to attacks.

“Our duty is prevention and protection, not confrontation. Iru Ekun exists to bridge the security gap at the grassroots and ensure our people can farm, travel, and sleep without fear,” he said.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over kidnapping in parts of the South-West, particularly in rural communities across Osun, Oyo, Ondo, and Kwara states, where criminal gangs are increasingly exploiting forest routes to target residents and farmers.

Meanwhile, the security outfit said efforts to rescue the remaining victim were continuing, assuring residents that the search operation was being handled cautiously to guarantee the victim’s safety.

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the bill seeking to establish state police, with 288 lawmakers voting in support of the proposal and four opposing it.

The resolution followed voting during plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, a day after members of the Green Chamber devoted legislative time to debating the contentious bill.

Announcing the outcome of the exercise, Abbas said lawmakers adopted a manual voting process through a show of hands following the failure of the electronic voting system.

The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture by creating an additional layer of policing at the state level while providing constitutional safeguards, operational frameworks, oversight mechanisms, and clearly defining the powers of federal and state policing authorities.

The passage of the bill marks a significant legislative step in the long-running national conversation on decentralising policing amid worsening insecurity in several parts of the country.

Before the voting, the House released the final print of the Constitution Alteration Bills seeking to provide a constitutional framework for the establishment of state police and other reforms.

In a statement issued earlier, the House spokesman, Akintunde Rotimi, said the proposed constitutional amendments reflected months of legislative work by the House Committee on Constitution Review.

Rotimi said the review process followed the receipt and consideration of constitutional amendment proposals from lawmakers, government institutions, professional bodies, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, and citizens.

According to him, the process also involved extensive stakeholder engagements, including zonal and national public hearings, expert sessions, consultative meetings, and town hall meetings held across the six geopolitical zones to ensure broad public participation.

“The bills represent the culmination of several months of rigorous legislative work undertaken by the House Committee on Constitution Review,” the statement read.

The House decision comes amid renewed concerns over insecurity, banditry, kidnapping, and violent attacks in parts of the country, with proponents arguing that state police would improve grassroots security and response time.

Meanwhile, the Senate has passed the state police bill for second reading and referred it to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during plenary, said lawmakers would vote on the bill at a subsequent sitting.