President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared strong support for the establishment of state police in Nigeria, calling for bold constitutional amendments to decentralize policing powers in response to escalating security threats across the country. Speaking through Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru at a legislative dialogue in Abuja, Tinubu emphasized that the nation's current centralized policing model is outdated and inadequate.
“The debate over state police is no longer theoretical,” Tinubu stated, citing growing insecurity that has left farmers, traders, and entire communities vulnerable. He called for transferring police powers from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List to enable states willing and able to establish their own forces.
Organized by the House Committee on Constitution Review in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the high-level dialogue brought together key national stakeholders. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu described the initiative as vital to reshaping the country's security architecture. Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, and NSA representative Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka also called for sweeping legal and structural reforms to address evolving threats like cybercrime and hybrid warfare.
However, resistance remains. The Inspector General of Police, represented by CP Ohiozoba Ehiede, warned against state police, urging instead for more funding and internal reforms of the Nigeria Police Force. This position was countered by several speakers, including Debo Ogundoyin, Chairman of the Conference of State Assembly Speakers, who argued for a multi-layered policing system.
Security expert Mike Ejiofor noted that many states already operate de facto police units as task forces, and formal recognition through constitutional amendment is overdue. He also dismissed fears of political misuse, suggesting legal safeguards and traditional ruler involvement in recruitment.
The push for state police, long advocated by southern governors and reform panels, appears to be gaining national traction amid renewed insecurity, particularly following recent massacres in Benue State.
