AfriPulse
June 05, (THEWILL) — The Presidency on Thursday disclosed that significant progress has been made toward the establishment of state police in Nigeria, with constitutional amendments necessary for its implementation expected to be introduced in the near future.
The development follows months of consultations involving the Executive, National Assembly, and key security authorities as the Federal Government moves to create a framework aimed at strengthening the country’s security architecture.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed while briefing State House Correspondents after a consultative meeting on state police convened by the Presidency at the State House, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila said discussions on the proposed state police framework began several months ago following a directive by President Bola Tinubu, adding that substantial progress had been achieved in developing the legal and constitutional pathways required for implementation.
“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 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,” Gbajabiamila said.
He further disclosed that constitutional amendments are now being considered as the next major step in the process.
“Hopefully, the amendment will come shortly, and the details of the amendment will come after that,” he added.
According to the Chief of Staff, current deliberations are centred on the constitutional provisions required to establish state police structures across the country, while enabling legislation would subsequently define operational procedures and administrative frameworks.
“Right now, what we are looking at is the constitutional amendment itself, and then the enabling law would follow thereafter. That is what we have been deliberating on in the last couple of hours,” he stated.
Gbajabiamila also suggested that there was now widespread acceptance of the concept across relevant stakeholders, noting that discussions had evolved beyond the question of whether state police should exist.
He said the focus had shifted toward ensuring the establishment of an effective legal and institutional framework capable of guaranteeing accountability and efficient operations.
The Chief of Staff noted that President Tinubu, who has consistently advocated decentralised policing as part of broader security reforms, would be presented with a comprehensive report detailing the outcomes of the meeting.
The issue of state police has remained one of Nigeria’s most debated governance and constitutional matters for years, attracting both support and criticism from various stakeholders.
Supporters of the initiative have argued that the country’s centralised policing structure has become overstretched amid rising security concerns including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence.
They contend that state-controlled police formations would improve local intelligence gathering and ensure faster responses to security threats.
However, opponents have continued to raise concerns about possible political interference and the potential misuse of state police by state administrations, urging the inclusion of robust legal safeguards to prevent abuse.
The President has repeatedly maintained that the nation’s changing security landscape requires a more responsive and locally driven policing system.
According to the administration, decentralised policing could strengthen intelligence gathering, improve grassroots security operations, and enhance the protection of lives and property nationwide.
Thursday’s meeting forms part of a broader series of consultations being coordinated by the Federal Government to develop a workable and nationally acceptable framework for the initiative.
Among senior officials present at the meeting were Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, and other top government functionaries.
Author Profile
Source: TheWillNigeria | Read the Full Story…
