The National Economic Council (NEC) has imposed a deadline of September 9 for four states to submit their reports on the establishment of state police. The NEC, which will review comprehensive reports from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on that date, has warned that states failing to meet the deadline will be subject to decisions made by the NEC regarding the state police.
The decision was made during the NEC meeting held on Wednesday, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Acting Oyo State Governor Abdulraheem Lawal reported that the discussion on state police was driven by ongoing security challenges across various regions, including the Northeast, Northcentral, Southwest, Southeast, and Southsouth. The initiative is aimed at enhancing national security.
“Last year, the NEC asked states to provide reports on the establishment of state police. Today, all states were expected to submit their reports for NEC’s review. However, four states did not meet this requirement. NEC has decided that these states must make their submissions by Monday next week. Failure to do so will result in NEC’s decisions being binding on those states,” Lawal stated.
Although the specific names of the four states were not officially disclosed, sources identified them as Adamawa, Kwara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and the FCT. One of these states reportedly claimed to have already submitted its report.
In addition to the state police discussions, the NEC also addressed the severe flooding affecting several states. The Federal Government has allocated ₦3 billion in aid to assist states impacted by the floods. Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed provided insights into the flood situation, particularly in the Northeast, where critical infrastructure, including roads and bridges, has been severely damaged.
“The flood has had devastating effects, especially in the Northeast, where essential infrastructure has been compromised. This has created significant challenges for the government and the people, particularly in ensuring food security as many farmlands have been submerged,” Mohammed explained.
He emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and state ministries to respond effectively to the crisis. An inventory of the damage, including impacts on agriculture and infrastructure, is required by Monday to facilitate timely support.
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule added that a new governance structure has been established to manage flood relief efforts. The reconstituted Flood Committee now includes governors from Kogi, Bayelsa, Oyo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, and Jigawa states, as well as key federal ministers and agency directors. This committee will oversee the assessment of flood damage and ensure effective relief measures.
“The council has decided that Monday will be the deadline for all states to submit detailed damage reports, including impacts on farms, schools, and infrastructure, to enable appropriate support for the affected regions,” Sule stated.
The NEC’s decisions underscore the urgency of addressing both security and environmental challenges facing the nation, with a focus on ensuring comprehensive and timely responses from all levels of government.
