The Presidency has urged the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to develop a financing and implementation plan for Nigeria’s proposed state police system, stressing the need for sustainable funding and accountability.

The Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, made the call during a session on “Security, Stability and Economic Resilience” at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

Gbajabiamila challenged the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), chambers of commerce and business associations to develop practical proposals for financing and managing state police, with appropriate measures to ensure accountability.

He said businesses had a direct stake in the success of the reform, noting that insecurity had resulted in abandoned investments, delayed factory expansions and lost economic opportunities.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to establishing state police presents an opportunity for the private sector to contribute to building security institutions capable of supporting economic growth.

He urged the NESG to extend discussions beyond the summit by engaging state governments and lawmakers on how to finance and implement the proposed system.

“Bring forward a considered private sector contribution on financing and implementing state police, with practical proposals for accountable partnerships,” he said.

However, Gbajabiamila cautioned that private sector participation must remain transparent and must not undermine police independence.

He also stressed that states seeking to establish their own police services must demonstrate the financial capacity to sustain their operations.

According to him, providing vehicles, uniforms and other equipment at the initial stage would not be sufficient without long-term funding for officers’ salaries, training and maintenance.

He warned that irregular salary payments could expose police officers to pressure from private interests and unlawful demands.

Gbajabiamila assured Nigerians that federal police would continue to operate in states that were not financially or institutionally prepared to establish their own police services.

Addressing concerns that state police could be used to target political opponents, he said the proposed legislation would incorporate safeguards, national professional standards and independent oversight to prevent abuse.