Nigeria's 36 state governors have once again thrown their weight behind the creation of state police, insisting any constitutional amendments must be "constitutionally sound and aligned with federalism and citizens' rights."
This came out of the second meeting of the Nigerian State Governors' Forum (NGF) held on Wednesday, June 17. The governors agreed to consult with state Attorneys-General to review proposed constitutional amendments and frameworks for establishing state police.
"Governors emphasised the need for the State Police to be constitutionally sound and aligned with federalism and citizens' rights," the communiqué read in part. The forum said the consultation outcomes would strengthen the states' collective position.
The push for state police isn't new. It's been a recurring demand from state governments who argue the current centralised police force, the Nigeria Police Force, is overstretched and ill-equipped to handle local security challenges. But previous attempts have stalled over fears of abuse by state governors.
On electricity, the governors backed the National Solar Super-Grid (NSSG) Initiative — a proposal to expand electricity access through large-scale decentralised solar generation connected to a national high-voltage transmission network. They said the initiative could support industrialisation, improve energy security, strengthen state electricity markets, and accelerate economic growth.
The NSSG is part of broader power sector reforms that have seen the federal government unbundle the Power Holding Company of Nigeria and privatise generation and distribution companies. But many states still struggle with unreliable grid supply, and several have begun passing their own electricity laws since the 2023 constitutional amendment allowed them to generate, transmit, and distribute power.
The forum also received a briefing from the World Bank Country Office on two major initiatives. The first is the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nigeria covering 2026–2032. The second is the Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW) Programme — a results-based initiative designed to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen value chains, increase private sector participation, and enhance food security and early childhood development.
Governors approved state-specific interventions for AGROW and stressed the need for better coordination across health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, social protection, and family support.
On nutrition, the forum received a presentation from the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on progress under the National Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative. The governors reaffirmed their commitment to improving nutrition outcomes and reducing child malnutrition across Nigeria. They noted ongoing work on the National Nutrition Bill and encouraged continued engagement with stakeholders to strengthen the legal and policy framework for nutrition governance.
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of child malnutrition in the world. According to UNICEF, about 12 million Nigerian children are stunted — a condition caused by chronic undernutrition that affects physical and brain development. The N-774 initiative, launched in 2024, aims to tackle this across all 774 local government areas.
The forum's communiqué didn't specify timelines for the state police or electricity reforms. But the governors' continued push signals they intend to keep these issues on the national agenda.