Insecurity: Tinubu agrees to creation of state police, orders governors to arm forest rangers

President Tinubu with state governors

By Abimbola Tooki

The federal government of Nigeria is finally listening to the voice of reasoning by considering the establishment of state police in the country.

The insecurity that has pervaded the country has gotten out of hand of all the security agencies in the country.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu informed the governors of the 36 states at a meeting in Abuja today that the federal government will work with them and the National Assembly towards putting in place a mechanism that will engender state police instead of the vigilantes that are being used in some states.

President Bla Tinubu, in company of Vice President Kashim Shettima today at the State House met with the governors and the FCT Minister. The meeting agreed on common ground to addressing some of the challenges currently facing the country especially the rising cost of food and insecurity. 

Tinubu informed the governors that modalities for state police and addressing security issues will be discussed further at National Economic Council.

The governors agreed to work with the federal government to solve the problems and tackle the economic pressure being faced by the citizens.

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, more police personnel will be recruited to strengthen the force pending the creation of state police.

The president charged the governors to strengthen their forest rangers and arm them to keep all the forest safe from criminals.

On rising cost of food, the president directed that the federal and state governments to effectively collaborate to increase local food production. Tinubu advised against the idea of food importation and price control when local food producers should be encouraged to produce more food. 

The president advised the governors to follow the example of Kano State in dealing with hoarding of food for profiteering by commodities merchants.

He directed the Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser, Department of State Services  to monitor warehouses hoarding food items across the country and stop profiteering by merchants. 

The president charged governors to pay attention to livestock development in their states and increase production most especially poultry and fishing products. 

Tinubu also pleaded with the governors to ensure all salary arrears to workers, gratuities to workers and pensioners are cleared as a way to put money into the hands of the people since states are now getting more monthly FAAC revenue. ‘’Spend the money, don’t spend the people, he urged the governors.’’

He also implored governors to create more economic opportunities for the youths in their states to keep them more productively engaged.