The four states were given deadline of 9th September to submit their report on state police
Abuja, Nigeria – The National Economic Council (NEC) has issued a warning to states that have yet to submit their reports on the establishment of state police, threatening to enforce its decision on the matter.
This development follows President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of the initiative earlier in the year as a response to the rising insecurity across the nation.
During a NEC meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, it was revealed that four states—Kwara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Adamawa—as well as the Federal Capital Territory, had not submitted their reports.
Acting Oyo State Governor, Bayo Lawal, who briefed journalists after the meeting, stated that the affected states were given a final deadline of Monday, September 9, to comply or face the consequences of the council’s decision.
“NEC has decided that those states must make their submissions on or before Monday, or whatever decision NEC takes will be binding on them,” Lawal said. He explained that the state police initiative is intended to bolster security in regions facing severe challenges, including the North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East, and South-South.
In a separate update, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, announced the reformation of the national flood committee in response to recent flood disasters. The committee, designed to provide ongoing intervention rather than ad hoc solutions, now includes governors from Kogi, Oyo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Bayelsa, and Jigawa states, alongside federal ministers and heads of relevant agencies.
Governor Sule noted that all states affected by recent floods have until Monday to submit detailed reports on damages, including affected farms, schools, and infrastructure. He emphasized that the federal government would consider these reports in determining appropriate support for the states.
The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, added that the NEC extensively discussed the recent floods, particularly in the North-East, where key routes and infrastructure were severely damaged.
Mohammed expressed concern about the impact of the floods on food security, noting that farmlands had been submerged and urging greater collaboration between federal and state authorities to mitigate the effects of the disaster.
“The federal ministry of agriculture and our state ministries need to work together to ensure comprehensive measures are taken, especially since the anticipated bumper harvest may not materialize due to the flood damage,” Mohammed said.
The Federal Government has already provided N3 billion in flood relief to affected states, but NEC is seeking further measures to address the long-term impact of the disasters.
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