‘It’s Crucial For National Security’ – Jonathan Advocates Establishment Of State Police

• Jonathan advocates for the establishment of state police in Nigeria to enhance national security.

• Jonathan highlights the unanimous support for state police from the 2014 national conference

• He calls for broader security reforms, including revamping INEC to ensure fair elections and strengthening legal frameworks to prevent misuse of state police for political gain.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Former President Goodluck Jonathan has underscored the imperative of establishing state police in Nigeria to bolster national security.

He made this assertion during a one-day dialogue convened by the House of Representatives in Abuja, aimed at addressing critical security challenges confronting the nation.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• BREAKING: Olusegun Alebiosu Appointed As Acting MD Of First Bank
• New Minimum Wage: NLC Proposes Sanctions For Defaulting Govs
• Soldiers’ Bodies Recovered After Clash With Suspected Bandits In Niger

Reflecting on discussions from the 2014 national conference, Jonathan noted that the concept of state police garnered unanimous support among delegates, alongside other proposed security reforms. He emphasized that the focus should not be on whether state police are necessary, but rather on how they can be effectively implemented.

Additionally, Jonathan stressed the importance of broader security reforms to strengthen the country’s security architecture.

He called for a revamp of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure fair and free elections, advocating for minimal use of police forces during electoral processes to prevent undue influence.

Moreover, Jonathan urged for the strengthening of legal frameworks to prevent potential misuse of state police by political actors who could leverage this resource to intimidate rivals or skew political landscapes in their favour.

FURTHER READING

• Hope And Caution: Nigeria’s Energy Sector Braces For Refinery Resurgence And Price Shifts
• JAMB Sanctions Officials Over Harassment Of Hijab-Wearing Candidate
• Tinubu To Open African Counter-Terrorism Summit In Abuja

The statement comes amidst a call for state police in the country due to recurring kidnapping, terrorism and other crimes in the country.

Click to watch our video of the week