Governor Peter Mbah has urged financial autonomy, constitutional backing and investment in technology for the proposed State Police, saying sustainable funding is key to improving security in Nigeria.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has advocated financial autonomy and robust investment in technology for the proposed State Police, saying any legal framework establishing the system must balance national standards with local operational capacity and decision-making.
Speaking on Thursday at the “Building a National Consensus for State Police and National Security” town hall organised by Arise News in Abuja, Mbah said adequate funding and modern security infrastructure would determine the effectiveness of state policing across the country.
The governor argued that a State Police Service Commission should enjoy a first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, similar to the judiciary and legislature at the state level, to ensure sustainable financing.
“The importance of funding the state police system effectively cannot be overemphasised. Having a State Police Service Commission that has a first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund is in order. The key thing is providing enough funding to sustain the state policing system,” he said.
Using Enugu as a case study, Mbah recalled that his administration inherited widespread insecurity in 2023, with nightlife disrupted, illegal sit-at-home orders crippling economic activities, and many students unable to complete their final examinations.
He said Enugu State Government responded by making security a top priority through significant investment in artificial intelligence-enabled CCTV surveillance, static and mobile cameras, and the establishment of the Distress Response Squad (DRS).
According to him, the integrated security architecture also includes a unified Command and Control Centre linking the police, the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS), enabling faster intelligence sharing and emergency response.
“Security is measured in minutes. You must be able to act swiftly. Our investments in technology and coordinated response have helped reduce violent crime in Enugu by over 90 per cent,” Mbah stated.
The governor further urged lawmakers to provide constitutional recognition for State Police while leaving operational details to an Act of the National Assembly, allowing future reforms without requiring constitutional amendments.
Addressing concerns that governors could misuse state police, Mbah dismissed such fears, stressing that elected governors have limited tenures and should be given sufficient operational authority to meet their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
“Nobody is a governor forever. We will all leave office one day and become regular citizens. If governors are expected to deliver security, they must also be given the authority needed to achieve that responsibility,” he said.
State Police: Mbah Calls for Financial Autonomy, Technology Investment
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