NO APPROVAL FOR STATE, LOCAL GOVT POLICE – Presidency

The Presidency has denied that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the establishment of State and Local Government Police.

The denial is contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The statement said President Buhari only received a report on the reform of the Special Anti Robbery Square, SARS, and requested that the report be studied and a White Paper produced within three months.

It added that the President had directed that a three man panel be set up to produce the White Paper, the report on which would form the basis of the decisions of government on the many recommendations, including the setting up of State and Local Government Police, made by the Ojukwu panel.

The statement maintained that it would be premature and pre-emptive to suggest that the recommendations of the panel have been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari without a White Paper.