Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has said Nigeria has moved beyond debating whether state police should be established, insisting that the focus should now shift to creating an effective system that works alongside wider reforms in security, revenue allocation, and the judiciary.
Speaking virtually at the ARISE News Town Hall on State Police, Soludo described the creation of state police as part of a broader move towards achieving a more functional federal system. He argued that policing reforms must be supported by constitutional changes that strengthen Nigeria’s security and justice structures.
The governor apologised for his absence at the event but praised ARISE News for organising what he described as an important national discussion. He also commended the National Assembly for advancing constitutional amendments on state police and praised President Bola Tinubu for supporting reforms aimed at strengthening federalism.
According to Soludo, the debate over state police has already reached a new stage.
“The issue is no longer whether or not to have state police. I think we have gone beyond that. The issue now is how,” he said.
The Anambra governor highlighted the importance of cooperation between federal and state security agencies, noting that security successes in the state were achieved through collaboration. He said practical issues, including funding, training, and the type of weapons available to state police officers, must be properly addressed.
Soludo warned that state police should not be treated as a standalone reform but as part of a wider restructuring process.
He argued that states taking on more responsibilities through devolution of powers must also receive greater financial support. According to him, the current revenue-sharing formula leaves states with limited resources despite their growing responsibilities.
“The federal government still retains about 53 per cent of federation revenue, while states share only about 26 per cent. If we truly want sustainable federalism, then we must revisit the revenue allocation formula,” he said.
The governor also called for judicial reforms, arguing that state courts should have greater authority over local matters. He said issues such as land disputes should not take decades to resolve because cases move through the entire federal judicial system.
Soludo maintained that establishing state supreme courts and strengthening state justice systems would make legal processes faster and more effective.
He urged lawmakers and stakeholders to use the state police debate as an opportunity to complete Nigeria’s transition towards true federalism.
“Let this conversation move towards building a more sustainable federal structure,” Soludo said, adding that security, resources, and justice reforms must work together for Nigeria to achieve lasting progress.
Yawa9ja
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