Governors Gather in Abuja for Emergency Security Talks Ahead of NEC Meeting

As Nigeria grapples with rising insecurity, all 36 governors are converging in Abuja this evening for a high-stakes meeting convened by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). Scheduled for 8:00 PM, the gathering is set to take place just a day before the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting slated for Thursday.

While the NGF has kept the official agenda under wraps, reliable sources indicate that the forum will focus heavily on the recent surge in violent killings across the country. The states of Plateau and Benue, in particular, have experienced a troubling escalation in violence, drawing nationwide concern and prompting calls for immediate action.

FG Releases ₦50 Billion To University Unions ASUU, NASU As Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment To Education

Killings and Calls for State Police Take Center Stage

Security experts and political observers alike are paying close attention to the possibility that state police will become a central talking point during tonight’s discussions. The idea of devolving policing powers to the states has gained substantial momentum over the past year, with renewed urgency following consistent security failures at the federal level.

The notion of state police was broadly endorsed during the NEC meeting on December 12, 2024, when governors from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) signaled support for the initiative. Many states had submitted formal recommendations on the framework for state police as early as December last year, signaling their preparedness for a decentralized security system.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele added weight to this national conversation earlier this week, announcing that the National Assembly is actively working on the legal infrastructure necessary to establish state police. According to Bamidele, the legislative arm is committed to crafting constitutional amendments and statutes that will legitimize and operationalize the new policing model.

“The legislature is fully aware of the urgency of the moment,” Bamidele noted, “and we are taking concrete steps to ensure that the legal groundwork is in place to empower states to protect their people.”

The outcome of tonight’s meeting could significantly shape Thursday’s NEC session, where economic and national security policies are expected to be prioritized. With growing pressure from citizens and civil society organizations, the governors may push for a unified front in demanding expedited action on security reforms, particularly in the wake of recurring violence in rural communities and urban centers alike.

As tensions rise and eyes turn to Abuja, stakeholders across the nation are hoping for decisive leadership and tangible steps toward restoring peace and order.