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State police suffers setback as FG, govs’ January meeting fails
The Federal Government’s promise to finalise discussions on state policing has once again stalled as the National Economic Council failed to convene its first meeting earlier scheduled for January 2025.
The council had previously deferred final resolutions on the creation of state police to January after securing written positions from the 36 states, with the majority backing the idea of state-controlled policing.
The council, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shattima, comprises the 36 state governors, the Minister of Finance, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and select key government officials.
NEC’s deliberations also include consultations with sector experts.
According to sources in the Presidency and the Council, the NEC was set to meet on January 31, which was derailed by an emergency meeting of governors from the Peoples Democratic Party in Asaba, the Delta State capital, on Friday.
A source said, “We had suggested January 31 for the NEC meeting to finalise the discussions not only on state police but other matters as well.
“But PDP governors met on Friday. And these governors are part of the council. So, we had no choice but to stand down the NEC meeting.”
A senior official in the council also confirmed the abrupt shift.
“The council was to reconvene on January 31,” the official said. “However, some key stakeholders indicated they will be attending the PDP Governors’ meeting. Without a quorum, there was no point going ahead.”
The push for state police gained fresh momentum at the 147th NEC meeting in December, where Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State revealed that all 36 states (excluding the FCT) had submitted their positions.
“I want to say here clearly that most of us are in agreement with the establishment of state police,” he said.
The Kaduna State governor explained that the consensus stemmed from various security challenges across states.
He highlighted the central issue of ungoverned spaces in Nigeria and the acute shortage of security personnel, including the police, army and other relevant agencies.
However, the council deferred conclusive discussions until January to allow for further engagement with other stakeholders and to compile a comprehensive report at the NEC secretariat.
Addressing journalists, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the process was still in its infancy and would only take shape after more deliberations with stakeholders.
He said, “A lot of work must be done in that direction. But if our government and the state governments agree to the necessity of having state police, this is a significant shift.”
As of the last NEC meeting, the implementation of state police remains only in the planning stages as the Federal Government and state authorities continue to haggle on the constitutional amendments required to empower states to establish and manage their police forces.
The Commissioner of Police Force Provost Marshal, Force Headquarters, CP. Olusegun Eyitayo Omosanyin, has ordered the eviction of adults from the Dei Dei Police Barracks in Abuja.
This directive was issued amid concerns about brigandage in the barracks.
A statement signed by Omosanyin described the criminal activities occurring in the barracks as alarming.
He, therefore, directed that all adults that are 18 years and above excluding serving policemen and their spouses should vacate the barracks immediately.
The police issued a 14-day notice which took effect from Thursday, January 30, 2025.
The statement read, “The Commissioner of Police Force Provost Marshal, Force Headquarters Abuja has directed that incessant cases of criminal activities being recorded within the neighbourhood of the MD Abubakar barrack is alarming.
“Henceforth all adults from eighteen (18) years and above excluding serving policemen and their spouses should vacate the barrack immediately.
“You are issued a fourteen days notice to vacate the quarters. This takes effect from today 30th January, 2025 to February 13th 2025 to vacate the barracks. Those who violate this order will be seriously dealt with.”
A bricklayer, Enoch Ganogbe, has developed hypertension after his daughter, Abigail Ganogbe, and granddaughter, Yenukunme Ajovi, went missing.
He said Abigail and Ajovi have been missing since January 2015.
It was gathered that it could not be ascertained whether they were abducted or disappeared in the Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Enoch lamented that their disappearance had taken a toll on him, causing him a lot of stress. He added that the situation made him developed hypertension.
“Sometimes, I worry about how much this is affecting my health. I just pray it doesn’t end up taking my life,” he said.
The worried father said her daughter supported him and had always been there for him.
“She was helping out in so many ways. She’s a really good person and does a lot for me. I haven’t felt any joy or peace since she went missing. I’ve searched everywhere and asked everyone I could, but nothing has led me to her. At this point, I can only leave it in God’s hands, hoping that someday, I’ll find her,” he lamented.
Enoch stressed that before their disappearance, his daughter had a disagreement with her husband, “but we were able to help resolve that”.
READ ALSO: Police Arrest 28-year-old Man For Impersonation, Theft In Ogun
He said, “My daughter’s husband reported her disappearance to the police, but there has been no progress. Since then, my life hasn’t been the same.”
Abigail’s husband, Noah Ajovi, described his wife and daughter’s disappearance as a big loss and disaster.
He stated that he had been with the victim since 2007 before they got married in 2011.
“I spent 10 years of my life with her, and she disappeared with the only daughter she has with me. I did a registry with her. I didn’t just meet her on the street and impregnate her. All I want now is my daughter. If I see my daughter, I’ll be happy that what I spent 10 years of my life on still exists,” Ajovi explained.
The husband further explained that, “She left home in January 2015, and I was travelling at that time. Whenever we have issues, she always leaves the house.
“We haven’t seen her since she left the last time. I reported the issue at the police station. We’re not sure if they were kidnapped.”
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, proved abortive.
(PUNCH)
President Donald Trump on Sunday called again for Canada to become a US state, heightening tensions further with one of his country’s closest allies after hitting it with heavy tariffs.
While claiming the United States pays “hundreds of billions of dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada,” apparently referring to the US trade deficit with its neighbor, Trump said “without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country.”
“Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State,” he wrote on his Truth social media platform, claiming the move would bring “much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada – AND NO TARIFFS!”
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