Nigeria Moves Closer to State Police as Constitutional Amendment Advances

Nigeria has moved a step closer to establishing state police following progress on the constitutional framework required to decentralise policing, the Presidency has said.

The development comes after months of consultations involving the Presidency, the National Assembly and security authorities as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture and address growing insecurity.

Presidency Says Constitutional Amendment Gains Momentum

Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed the development on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after a consultative meeting on state police at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to a statement issued by the Presidency, deliberations on the proposed state police framework began several months ago following a directive from President Bola Tinubu.

“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,” Gbajabiamila said.

“Establishing state police is not something that you do with the snap of the fingers. There is a lot involved in terms of constitution and legalities, and thank God, we have now gained a lot of traction.

“Hopefully, the amendment will come shortly, and the details of the amendment will come after that.”

He explained that the immediate focus is on securing constitutional amendments, while enabling legislation would be developed afterward.

“Right now, what we are looking at is the constitutional amendment itself, and then the enabling law would follow thereafter,” he added.

Tinubu to Receive Report on Consultations

Gbajabiamila said there is now growing consensus across the country on the need for state police, noting that discussions have shifted from whether it should be established to determining the most effective framework for its operation.

According to him, President Tinubu, who has consistently advocated for state police, will receive a comprehensive report on the outcome of the consultations.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu and other senior government officials.

Renewed Push Driven by Security Challenges

The latest consultation forms part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to develop a workable framework for state police, which supporters believe would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community policing and enable faster responses to security threats.

Nigeria’s policing system is currently controlled by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force.

However, persistent security challenges, including kidnappings, banditry and violent attacks in several parts of the country, have intensified calls for a decentralised policing structure.

President Tinubu had previously described state police as inevitable in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges and urged lawmakers to expedite legislation related to its establishment.

Proponents argue that state police would enhance local intelligence gathering and improve community-based security operations.

Critics, however, have expressed concerns over possible political interference by state governors, funding challenges and the potential for abuse of power.

The renewed push comes amid growing public concern over insecurity, including the recent abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, an incident that sparked protests and an indefinite strike by teachers in the state.

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A Lagos-based journalist with a passion for disseminating factual information and a deep appreciation for good music, good food, movies, and beautiful cars. He hopes to travel the world someday, documenting its beauty and diverse cultures through his storytelling.