During a recent meeting in Abeokuta, the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) emphasized the need for state police, asserting that it would allow greater control over security decisions within their respective states.
The governors argued that local law enforcement officers, familiar with the terrain and language, are better equipped to combat crime effectively.
The SGF convened under the leadership of host Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was appointed chairman. Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo was named Vice Chairman. Among the attendees were Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Alex Otti (Abia), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).
Others included Bassey Otu (Cross River), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom). Deputy Governors Chinyere Ekomaru (Imo), Monday Onyeme (Delta), and Olayide Adelami (Ondo) represented their states in the absence of their respective governors.
Rivers State Governor Similayi Fubara was notably absent and unrepresented.
Governor Abiodun, who succeeded the late Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State as chairman, discussed the forum’s deliberations on state police, the political turmoil in Rivers State, infrastructure, and agriculture during a national television appearance.
He highlighted the unanimous support among the 17 Southern governors for state policing.
“We all spoke with one voice in support of state policing and regional security outfits, which almost all regions have established,” Abiodun stated. “These outfits work closely with law enforcement agencies, providing intelligence and support. We cannot achieve meaningful development amid insecurity.”
Abiodun pointed out the limitations of the current federal police system, where commissioners of police are appointed by and answerable to the Inspector General of Police (IGP). This often results in delays and inefficiencies in addressing urgent security issues.
He noted, “A policeman from Borno, posted to Lagos or Ogun, doesn’t understand the terrain, language, or local intelligence. By the time he settles in, he is often transferred. Community police, under a state police arrangement, would eliminate these issues, allowing officers to serve within their communities, fully understanding local dynamics and criminal elements.”
The governors also expressed concerns over the federal police’s manpower shortages, despite state governments funding their operations. Abiodun emphasised, “We are not getting the best from the federal police. They lack sufficient personnel, and we, as governors, are not in control of our states’ security.”
Addressing local government tenure, Abiodun criticised the extension of terms for elected officials, referencing the recent controversy in Rivers State, where the House of Assembly extended local government chairmen’s tenures. He called it unconstitutional and a dangerous precedent, emphasising that tenure extensions undermine democratic principles.
The forum also discussed infrastructure development, particularly appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the coastal road project, which connects several southern states and promises significant economic benefits and job creation. The governors advocated for the Federal Government to transfer some Trunk A roads to states willing to maintain them.
Abiodun concluded, “We agreed on a modal transport master plan to integrate rail, water, and road transportation, recognizing its importance for investment facilitation and the general wellbeing of our people.”
