Following Nigeria’s deepening security crisis, the Southern Governors’ Forum has backed proposals for the establishment of state police.
The forum, in a statement published at the end of its meeting in Ogun State on Monday, stated that the establishment of state police will allow “governors to be Chief Security Officers.”
The statement, issued by Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State and the forum’s chairman, stated that the state police will supplement the efforts of local security agencies in the southern states.
He said:
“Southern Governors resolved to continue to advocate for the creation of state police against the success of community-based regional security outfits that have significantly helped intelligence gathering.
“It is believed that this will enable Governors to be Chief Security Officers indeed.”
According to the governor, the meeting also covered the topic of solid mineral discovery and utilisation in the region.
The forum complained that illicit miners’ operations in the region had caused instability in the communities.
“Member Governors expressed concern over current practices where mineral licenses are issued, and exploitations are undertaken without recourse to state governments.
“These continue to be carried out often attracting criminal activities and attendant’s negative environmental impact, ecological degradation with no remediation commitments, and no revenue accruing to both States and the Federal Government,” he stated.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
