Confab: Committee co-chairmen disagree on state police

Disagreement over the establishment or not of state police almost marred the meeting of the National Conference Committee on National Security as the committee’s two co-chairmen opposed one another vehemently.
Although the meeting was held behind closed doors, but a reliable source told The Eagle Online that while a former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Jimeta Gambo, insisted that there should be no state police, his Co-Chairman, Chief A. K. Horsefall said that the country needed state police.
Both chairmen, as gathered, were at loggerheads, with members of the committee divided along the two divides.
Alhaji Gambo insisted that the Police should remain a central government affair.
Horsefall argued otherwise.
In a paper exclusively obtained by The Eagle Online, which was prepared and presented by Horsefal;, titled: “The security – general appraisal,” he advocated for the creation of a Ministry of Homeland Security.
He said the MHS will lead and coordinate internal security at all levels.
The paper reads in part: “This means that at the community, LG, State and National levels the coordinator (Head of Centre) would be the MHS. At the national level, the minister of Homeland Security will provide executive capacity and leadership under the President.”
It is also proposed in the document that the office and functions of the National Security Adviser should remain as it is but working directly with the Minister of Homeland Security and the President.
In addition, it is also recommended that the Services should be allowed to design their system, identify needed equipment and purchase their equipment without political interference.
Horsefall added in the paper: “The MoHS upon creation should take the landmass of Nigeria and with data and information design its security map of communities and LGs which it will use to design its “community policing” and thus carry out the deployment of staff and equipment as well as designation of Rapid Response Centres.”