Vice President Kashim Shettima is currently chairing a session of the National Economic Council (NEC), the first since President Bola Tinubu renewed discussions on establishing state police as a response to escalating insecurity.
The meeting commenced around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday following the Vice President’s arrival at the council chambers of the State House in Abuja.
After opening prayers led by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, members moved into a closed-door session.
The NEC, a constitutionally mandated advisory body headed by the vice president, includes all 36 state governors, the Central Bank governor, and select key ministers. While primarily focused on coordinating economic policy, the council also addresses broader governance issues.
At a meeting with a delegation of eminent citizens of Katsina state, Tinubu renewed calls for the creation of state-level policing.
“I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create a state police,” he told the delegates at the State House, Abuja.
State policing has been a contentious issue in Nigeria, where violent crime, kidnapping and insurgencies have stretched national security forces.
Past attempts to decentralise policing have stalled over fears of political abuse by governors.
Thursday’s NEC session marks the first time governors are meeting formally since the president’s remarks, raising expectations that the issue could surface.
The NEC was still in session at the time of filing this report.
