All 36 Nigerian states have now agreed to the creation of state police, according to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna, who announced this after the 146th National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The decision comes amid escalating security challenges across Nigeria, including insurgency, banditry, and separatist violence in various regions. Governor Sani highlighted the critical need for state police, noting that current national security agencies lack sufficient personnel to cover the entire country.

"Knowing fully well that we have a lot of ungoverned space in Nigeria, and also that we have a deficit in terms of number of boots on ground, the establishment of state police is the way forward toward addressing the problem of insecurity in our country," Sani told journalists.

The country currently faces multiple security threats:

- North-east: Ongoing Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency

- North-central: Farmer-herder conflicts and terrorist activities

- North-west: Banditry and potential terrorist collaborations

- South-east and South-south: Armed separatist attacks

Despite widespread support, the proposal is not without controversy. Critics argue that state police could potentially be misused by governors to suppress political opponents.

The NEC has decided to postpone final discussions until its January 2025 meeting, with plans for further stakeholder engagement. If ultimately approved, the proposal would require National Assembly legislation to implement.

The decision represents a significant step towards decentralizing security management, with proponents arguing that localized policing could more effectively address region-specific security challenges.

The next NEC meeting will review a comprehensive report from the secretariat and continue deliberations on the state police proposal.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​