NEC Defers State Police Talks Amid Rising Insecurity, Sparking Civil Society Backlash
ABUJA, Nigeria — The National Economic Council (NEC) on April 24, 2025, deferred discussions on establishing state police for the third time since late 2023, citing time constraints, despite escalating violence across Nigeria. The decision, made during a meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups who argue that the delay exacerbates the country’s security crisis. With over 200 deaths reported in recent attacks in Plateau, Benue, and Kwara states, the deferral has intensified calls for urgent action to address banditry, kidnapping, and communal clashes. The issue, trending on X with #StatePolice (130,000 posts), underscores a deepening divide between government priorities and public demands as of April 25, 2025.
NEC’s Repeated Deferrals
The NEC, comprising the 36 state governors, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, the Central Bank Governor, and other top officials, had state police on its agenda but sidelined it due to lengthy presentations on other national issues, per TheCable. Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, briefing reporters, said, “We were unable to get to that bit of it. I can assure you that in our next meeting, the issue will be exhaustively discussed,” per Vanguard. This marks the third postponement since November 2024, when all 36 states submitted positions, with most supporting state police, per Nigerian Eye.
Kaduna Governor Uba Sani had previously assured a final resolution, stating that all states favored state police to tackle rising insecurity, per Guardian Nigeria. However, the January 2025 meeting was delayed due to an emergency governors’ summit, and the April session again failed to address the issue, per Daily Post. The NEC’s focus instead shifted to livestock modernization and a $90 billion agribusiness strategy, per Vanguard.
Escalating Security Crisis
The deferral comes amid a surge in violence, with gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, killing over 200 people and displacing communities in Plateau, Benue, Zamfara, Borno, and Kwara states, per Independent Nigeria. Herdsmen-related attacks have affected 22 states under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly in the North-Central zone, per Independent Nigeria. On April 24, 2025, Tinubu, addressing security chiefs, declared, “Enough is enough,” ordering a new approach to curb killings, per Independent Nigeria. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu noted Tinubu’s active monitoring, even during a recent trip to France, per Independent Nigeria.
Nigeria’s security challenges include banditry, kidnapping, and communal clashes, with the military deployed in 30 states for tasks typically handled by police, per Brookings. The Nigeria Police Force, with 370,000 officers, is underfunded and overstretched, with a third guarding VIPs, leaving communities vulnerable, per Council on Foreign Relations.
Civil Society Criticism
Civil society groups have lambasted the NEC’s inaction. The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) called the deferral “a betrayal of public trust,” arguing that state police could enhance local security, per The Nation. Transparency International Nigeria criticized the government’s “lack of urgency,” noting that centralized policing has failed to curb violence, per Punch Newspapers. The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria movement, active on X, demanded immediate action, with @SaharaReporters stating, “NEC’s delay is costing lives daily,” per X Post.
The National Assembly’s ongoing development of a legal framework for state police, announced by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele on April 21, 2025, has not quelled criticism, as progress remains slow, per Naija News. A 2018 State Police Bill by Ike Ekweremadu stalled, highlighting legislative hurdles, per Naija News.
Broader Context
The push for state police has gained traction since 2014, when a National Conference under President Goodluck Jonathan recommended it, per AllAfrica. In 2024, 16 governors endorsed the proposal, per Channels Television. Regional security outfits like Amotekun in the South-West and Ebube Agu in the South-East reflect state-level efforts, per Channels Television. However, concerns persist that governors could misuse state police to suppress dissent, per AllAfrica.
Nigeria’s broader challenges include a naira at N1,610/$1, 40% inflation, and 95 million in poverty, per NBS and World Bank. Security incidents, with over 120 deaths in April 2025, and mpox cases add strain, per The Punch and Al Jazeera. Cultural moments like Wizkid’s Morayo topping charts provide brief relief, per BellaNaija.
Looking Ahead
The NEC’s next meeting, expected in May 2025, will be pivotal, with Diri promising a thorough discussion, per TheCable. Civil society groups, backed by regional bodies like Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, continue to advocate for state police, per Channels Television. Analysts warn that further delays could erode public trust, with Dr. Tunde Lawal noting, “The government’s inaction risks pushing communities toward vigilante justice,” per TheCable. As Nigeria navigates its security crisis, the NEC’s ability to deliver concrete solutions will shape its credibility and the nation’s stability.
