Mbah Says State Police Needs Financial Autonomy And Modern Technology

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has said state police will need financial autonomy and serious investment in technology if governors are expected to answer for security in their states.

Mbah made the case at an Arise News town hall in Abuja on Thursday, where speakers discussed how Nigeria could build agreement around state police and national security.

He said the law setting up state police should support national standards while still giving states enough room to make local decisions and respond quickly to threats.

Mbah argued that a State Police Service Commission should have a first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, similar to arrangements for the judiciary and legislature in the states.

Using Enugu as an example, he said his administration met a serious security problem in 2023, with nightlife disrupted, parts of the state capital affected and students losing time because of illegal sit-at-home orders.

The governor said Enugu invested in CCTV cameras, mobile surveillance, a distress response squad and a command and control centre linking the police, the army and the Department of State Services.

He said those measures helped the state reduce violent crime by more than 90 per cent, and argued that state police will fail if governors are given responsibility without operational authority.

Sources: Vanguard, Daily Post