President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed confidence in the establishment of state police as a key step towards improving security across the country.
The President spoke on Thursday night while addressing governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress at the party’s caucus meeting held at the State House, Abuja.
Tinubu told the governors that the creation of state police remained a priority for his administration, stressing that it would strengthen internal security nationwide.
He revealed that the issue had featured prominently in his recent engagements with international leaders.
According to the President, he discussed the plan for state police during meetings with leaders from the United States and Europe.
He said: “I had a very long discussion with the US and European leaders. I was bragging to them that definitely we will pass a state police to improve security.
“They asked me if I’m confident, and I said, ‘Yes, I have a party to depend on. I have a party that will make it happen. And if at this level we fail, God forbid, we will not fail.”
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to implementing the supreme court ruling on LG autonomy and called for practical and effective implementation of the order.
“Let us equally look at the recent supreme court judgement. What can we do with it, and how well we can position our country and our party?
“To me, the local government autonomy is and must be effective. Let us give them. There is no autonomy without a funded mandate.
“We give them their money directly. That’s the truth. That’s compliance with the supreme court,” he said.
The President urged the governors to be flexible and get involved in the happenings in their respective states.
“You have to navigate this country; whether we like it or not, you are in the leadership position that must yield and continue to promote, tolerate and be flexible and get involved in whatever is happening in your various states, up to the local government level,” Tinubu said.