Governor of Enugu , Dr Peter Mbah has advocated financial autonomy for proposed state police services, saying adequate funding and investment in modern technology are essential for effective policing, while dismissing fears that governors would abuse the system.
He spoke on Thursday , July 9Th, 2026, at the town hall meeting themed “Building a National Consensus for State Police and National Security,” organised by Arise News in Abuja.
He said any legal framework establishing state police must strike a balance between national standards, federal support, local capability and state-level decision-making.
The governor proposed that State Police Service Commissions should enjoy a first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, similar to state legislatures and judiciaries, to guarantee sustainable funding.
Gov Mbah urges financial autonomy, tech-driven security framework
“The importance of funding the state police system effectively cannot be overemphasised. Having a State Police Service Commission that has a first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund is in order,” he said.
Drawing from Enugu’s security reforms since assuming office in 2023, Governor Mbah recalled that the state was grappling with widespread insecurity, disrupted nightlife, illegal sit-at-home orders and severe economic losses.
He said his administration responded by investing heavily in technology, including AI-enabled CCTV surveillance, static and mobile cameras, a unified Command and Control Centre and the Distress Response Squad (DRS).
The Panelists at the event discussing state policing.
“If the Enugu experience is anything to go by, we invested hugely in technology… We also ensured that there is a unified communication system between the agencies,” he stated.
According to the governor, the integrated security architecture has helped reduce violent crime in the state by over 90 per cent while improving coordination among the police, military and the Department of State Services.
Mbah further urged lawmakers to make constitutional provisions for state police broad enough to allow operational details to be addressed through an Act of the National Assembly, making future reforms easier without repeated constitutional amendments.
Addressing concerns over possible abuse of state police by governors, he argued that elected leaders have limited tenures and should be given adequate operational authority to meet security expectations.
“Nobody is a governor forever. We are also going to one day leave that office and become regular citizens. We just want to be sure that there is enough operational authority given to the governors,” he said.
He maintained that effective state policing would only succeed if backed by adequate funding, technology, institutional autonomy and clear operational powers.
