The Federal Government has declared that Nigeria is ready for state police, reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s determination to establish decentralized policing as soon as the necessary legal framework is in place.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said President Bola Tinubu is determined to ensure the reform becomes a reality as soon as enabling legislation is enacted.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Centre for Crisis Communication, led by its Chairman, Major General Chris Olukolade (retd.), at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Idris said decentralised policing is crucial to addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
“It is the desire of President Bola Tinubu to ensure that we have state police as soon as it is practicable in this country. The time has indeed come for that,” he said, adding that the president has already appealed to the National Assembly to enact the necessary legislation to pave the way.
The minister’s statement comes just hours after President Tinubu made a direct appeal to the Senate on Wednesday night during an interfaith breaking of fast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“We are facing terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. But we will never fail to make a right response to this cause. What I will ask for tonight is for you (Senators) to start thinking how best to amend the constitution to incorporate the State Police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, and free our children from fear,” the President said.
President Tinubu noted that a decentralised policing structure would complement existing federal security architecture and promote intelligence-led, community-focused law enforcement.
According to Tinubu, the creation of state police would enhance the ability of subnational governments to respond swiftly to threats within their jurisdictions while complementing existing federal security structures.
Earlier this week, President Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration’s promise to tackle insecurity through state policing remains on track during an interfaith breaking of fast with governors and senior officials at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Abuja.
“What I promised Nigerians will not be postponed. Security is the foundation of prosperity. Without it, farms cannot flourish, businesses cannot grow, and families cannot sleep in peace. We will establish state police to curb insecurity. This is not about politics. It is about practicality,” he stated.
In April last year, the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, had announced that the National Assembly was drafting legal frameworks to pave the way for the establishment of state police across Nigeria.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended President Tinubu for providing visionary leadership and stated that the administration’s bold reforms have brought more revenue to governors at the sub-national level for infrastructure development.
The proposed state police initiative has gained strong backing from the Nigeria Governors Forum, with several state leaders indicating readiness to fund and manage their respective commands once the constitutional framework is established.
