By Queen Madaki
The Federal Government has announced significant progress toward the establishment of state police across Nigeria, with constitutional amendments expected in the coming months following extensive consultations among the Presidency, the National Assembly, and security agencies.
The development was disclosed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, while briefing journalists after a high-level consultative meeting on state police held at the State House in Abuja.
Months of Deliberations Yield Progress
Gbajabiamila revealed that discussions on the proposed state police framework began several months ago following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, the process has gained substantial momentum, bringing the country closer to implementing one of the administration’s key security reform proposals.
“We started deliberations in the last three or four months on how to go about the establishment of state police as directed by Mr President.
“Establishing a state police is not something that you do with the wave of the hand or snap of the finger. There is a lot involved in terms of constitution and legalities, and thank God now we have gained a lot of traction; hopefully the amendment will come shortly,” he said.
Focus Shifts to Constitutional Amendment
The Chief of Staff explained that discussions have now reached the stage of drafting and reviewing constitutional amendments required to create a legal foundation for state policing.
He noted that once the constitutional framework is in place, lawmakers will proceed with enabling legislation to define the operational structure, powers, and responsibilities of state police formations.
According to him, current consultations are largely focused on resolving legal and constitutional issues associated with decentralising policing in Nigeria.
National Consensus Emerging
Gbajabiamila said there appears to be growing national agreement on the need for state police as part of broader efforts to address the country’s security challenges.
He maintained that the conversation has largely shifted from whether state police should exist to determining the most effective framework for implementation.
The Bureau Journal reports that calls for state police have intensified in recent years amid rising concerns over banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, communal clashes, and other security threats across various parts of the country.
Tinubu to Receive Full Report
The Chief of Staff disclosed that President Tinubu would be presented with a comprehensive report detailing the outcome of the consultations and recommendations from stakeholders.
He reiterated that the President has consistently advocated for state police as a critical component of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
“There is a national consensus on the establishment of state police. I don’t think there is any debate on that.
“It is something that the President has wanted and has been talking about for some time since last year, and he will be given a full report on this meeting and the outcome of this meeting,” he added.
Push for Stronger Grassroots Security
The Federal Government believes a decentralised policing system will improve intelligence gathering, strengthen local security responses, and enhance the ability of state governments to address emerging threats within their jurisdictions.
Advocates of state police have long argued that a locally controlled policing structure would enable quicker responses to security incidents while improving collaboration between communities and law enforcement agencies.
President Tinubu has repeatedly maintained that state police could play a significant role in protecting lives and property while complementing the efforts of federal security institutions.
Key Stakeholders Attend Meeting
The consultative meeting attracted senior government officials and security leaders, including the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; and the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu.
Other participants included senior officials involved in ongoing discussions aimed at developing a workable and constitutionally compliant framework for the establishment of state police across Nigeria.
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