State police funding took centre stage as Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah called for financial autonomy, sustained investment in modern security technology and a constitutional framework that would empower state police services to effectively tackle insecurity across Nigeria.
The governor made the remarks during a town hall meeting on national security, where he argued that effective policing at the subnational level requires adequate funding, operational authority and strong collaboration among security agencies.
Speaking at the town hall meeting themed “Building a National Consensus for State Police and National Security,” organised by Arise News in Abuja, Mbah stressed that any future state police system must be backed by a reliable funding structure.
According to him, a State Police Service Commission should enjoy first-line charge funding from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to guarantee operational independence and efficiency.
“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,” he said.
The governor noted that while national standards and support remain essential, state policing must also provide room for local capability and faster decision-making.
Mbah pointed to Enugu State’s security transformation as evidence that sustained investment and strategic planning can significantly reduce crime.
He recalled that when his administration assumed office in 2023, parts of the state were grappling with severe insecurity, with nightlife disrupted, several communities barricaded by criminal elements and prolonged illegal sit-at-home orders preventing students from writing final examinations.
According to him, achieving the state’s economic development goals required first restoring security.
“We immediately recognised that if we didn’t address the security challenges, we could not achieve those objectives.”
To tackle insecurity, the Enugu State Government invested heavily in technology-driven policing, including an AI-powered Safe City Surveillance System equipped with both fixed and mobile CCTV cameras.
Mbah also highlighted the establishment of the Distress Response Squad (DRS) to ensure rapid intervention during security emergencies.
According to him, swift response is critical because security incidents are often measured in minutes rather than hours.
The governor said the combination of surveillance technology, rapid response capabilities and coordinated security operations helped reduce violent crime in Enugu State by more than 90 per cent.
Mbah explained that the state’s security strategy also focused on improving coordination among security agencies.
He disclosed that Enugu established a central Command and Control Centre, where the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) operate through a unified communication network.
According to him, integrating intelligence sharing and communication has strengthened the state’s capacity to prevent crime and respond quickly whenever security breaches occur.
Beyond funding, the governor advocated constitutional recognition of state police while allowing operational details to be addressed through legislation by the National Assembly.
He argued that such an approach would make future reforms easier without requiring repeated constitutional amendments.
“In amending the Constitution, we must make sure it is not verbose. There should be a provision that allows us to reform the system in future when necessary.”
Addressing concerns that governors could abuse state police, Mbah argued that the debate should focus more on accountability mechanisms than limiting executive authority.
He noted that governors occupy office for constitutionally limited terms and should be given sufficient operational control to effectively deliver on their security responsibilities.
“Nobody is a governor forever. We will all leave office one day and become regular citizens. You cannot give someone a performance target without providing the authority needed to achieve the expected outcome.”
Mbah maintained that a properly funded, technologically equipped and constitutionally backed state police system would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture while enabling state governments to respond more effectively to local security challenges.
