Northern governors and traditional rulers have restated their support for the swift implementation of state police, describing it as a vital reform for tackling the escalating security crisis in the region.
The leaders made the call on Monday during a crucial meeting in Kaduna State, where they discussed worsening insecurity, underdevelopment, and other socioeconomic pressures confronting northern Nigeria.
The meeting hosted by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and chaired by Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya — was convened to review rising threats including banditry, kidnapping, farmer–herder conflicts and disruptions to economic activities.
Governor Uba Sani stressed that Nigeria’s centralised police system “can no longer meet the demands” of a country with vast ungoverned areas and fewer than 400,000 police personnel.
“Every governor sitting here works tirelessly to secure our communities. We coordinate, compare strategies and share intelligence,” he said.
“Kindly permit me to reiterate the imperative of state police.”
He cautioned against politically driven narratives that portray northern leaders as indifferent, saying such claims undermine regional unity.
Governor Yahaya, chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, said insecurity in the region affects both Muslims and Christians and must be addressed without fueling ethnic or religious division.
“The security challenges we are facing are multifaceted… We must resist the urge to promote simplistic, divisive narratives,” he said.
“Our enemies aim to sow discord; we must not allow them to win.”
He added that insecurity is rooted in long-standing issues such as illiteracy, lack of opportunities, climate pressures, and poor resource management.
The governors reaffirmed their position that state policing is essential and urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to prioritise constitutional amendments that would enable its implementation.
They also pushed for stronger investment in education, infrastructure and socioeconomic opportunities — especially tackling the growing number of out-of-school children.
“The reality of millions of northern children roaming the streets is unacceptable,” Yahaya said.
“We must move beyond rhetoric and take decisive action.”
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, Sultan of Sokoto Saad Abubakar urged governors to remain receptive to criticism and use constructive feedback to improve governance.
“No leader seeking the people’s mandate would deliberately turn his back on citizens,” he said, warning that ignoring criticism could slow progress in tackling insecurity and poverty.
He also called for more frequent structured engagements between governors and traditional institutions across the three northern geopolitical zones.
Governors of Kaduna, Gombe, Niger, Zamfara, Nasarawa and Bauchi were present, alongside deputy governors representing others. Key traditional rulers, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, were also in attendance.
