State governors under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum have intensified consultations on the proposed creation of state police, engaging state Attorneys-General to examine constitutional amendments and develop a framework that aligns with Nigeria’s federal structure while safeguarding citizens’ rights.
The development was disclosed on Thursday by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, while presenting the communiqué issued after the forum’s second meeting of 2026 in Abuja.
The communiqué was signed by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Abiodun said governors remained committed to the establishment of state police but stressed that any policing arrangement at the state level must be firmly anchored in the Constitution and reflect the principles of federalism.
Nigeria has battled persistent security challenges for more than two decades, with insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality leading to widespread loss of lives and the displacement of millions of people. Despite efforts by the Federal Government and security agencies, including arrests, prosecutions and the neutralisation of criminal elements, insecurity remains a major concern across the country.
The worsening security situation has fuelled renewed demands for state police as an alternative approach to tackling crime and improving local security.
Momentum for the proposal has also increased at the National Assembly. On June 10, the House of Representatives passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to create state police, while the Senate, a day later, approved the bill for second reading and referred it to its Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative action.
Providing details of the governors’ deliberations, Abiodun said state Attorneys-General had been actively involved in reviewing the legal framework required for the initiative.
“The forum received a presentation from the NGF Secretariat and a delegation of the Honourable Attorneys-General of the states on efforts to support establishing state police in Nigeria.
“It noted a dedicated consultation with the Attorneys-General to review the proposed constitutional amendments and frameworks.
“Governors emphasised the need for the state police to be
constitutionally sound and aligned with federalism and citizens’ rights.
“The forum noted the collaborative effort and added that
the consultation outcomes would strengthen the states’ collective position,” he said.
Beyond security matters, the forum reviewed progress under the National Nutrition 774 Initiative and reaffirmed its commitment to tackling malnutrition and improving nutrition outcomes nationwide.
Speaking on the programme, Abiodun said, “The forum received a presentation from the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on progress under the National Nutrition 774 Initiative.
“The forum reaffirmed the governors’ commitment to improving nutrition outcomes and reducing child malnutrition across Nigeria.”
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He also called for continued collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen the legal and policy environment supporting nutrition governance and acknowledged advances made on the National Nutrition Bill.
Governors were equally briefed by the World Bank Country Office on the proposed Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria covering the 2026–2032 fiscal period.
Discussions also covered the proposed Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth initiative, which aims to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen value chains, increase private-sector participation, enhance food security and support early childhood development.
According to Abiodun, “The forum supported ongoing collaboration with the Federal Government, the World Bank, and other stakeholders to ensure successful implementation and deliver benefits to participating states.
“Governors approved state-specific interventions and stressed the importance of better coordination across sectors like health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, social protection, and family support.”
The meeting also considered the National Solar Super-Grid Initiative, a proposal designed to expand electricity access through large-scale decentralised solar energy generation linked to a national high-voltage transmission network.
Addressing the proposal, Abiodun said:
“The forum received a presentation on the National Solar
Super-Grid Initiative, a proposal to expand electricity
access through large-scale decentralised solar generation
integrated with a national high-voltage transmission network.
“The forum noted the initiative’s potential to support industrialisation, improve energy security, strengthen state electricity markets, and accelerate economic growth.”
The governors further reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing reforms in the power sector and pledged continued collaboration with relevant stakeholders to improve access to reliable and affordable electricity across the country.