President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the National Assembly to begin the process of amending the Constitution to incorporate provisions for the establishment of State Police, the Presidency said on Thursday.
The appeal was made during an interfaith breaking of fast with members of the Senate at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Under Nigeria’s current constitutional framework, policing falls under the exclusive legislative list controlled by the federal government, and the Nigeria Police Force is responsible for internal security across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Calls for State Police have been part of national discourse on security reforms, with various stakeholders including some state governors and security experts advocating for a decentralised policing structure to address localised threats.
Establishing State Police would require amendment to the Constitution, which must be passed by both chambers of the National Assembly with a two-thirds majority and ratified by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly.
Tinubu, describing Nigeria as “extremely challenged” by terrorism, banditry and insurgency, said the constitutional amendment was necessary to enable states to secure forests from bandits and protect children from fear.
He told senators, “What I am asking for tonight is for you 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, free our children from fear.”
The President made a similar pledge earlier this week to state governors during an Iftar dinner, where he stated that the establishment of State Police “will not be postponed.”
Tinubu also commended the senators for their support in addressing security challenges and pledged not to take their collaboration for granted. He said the Senate’s support for legislative initiatives on security and other national issues had been significant.
Tinubu said, “What I am asking for tonight is for you 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, free our children from fear.”
He also said, “You never fail to make the right response to these calls. All the critical support that I’ve enjoyed, I promise that I will continue to enjoy it and will not take you for granted.”
The President’s call to amend the Constitution to allow for State Police puts the issue on the legislative agenda as Nigeria continues to confront security challenges across different regions.
Should the National Assembly commence the amendment process, it will involve extensive consultation and support from a super-majority of lawmakers and state assemblies.
Discussions on State Police relate to broader debates on policing reforms and security architecture in the country, particularly as various stakeholders assess approaches to counter insurgency, banditry, and other security threats.
