Tinubu Urges Senate To Amend Constitution For State Police Establishment

by Adeleke Olubanwo

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally urged the National Assembly to initiate constitutional amendments that would pave the way for the establishment of state police across the federation, in what observers describe as one of the most significant security reform proposals in recent years.

In a communication addressed to the Senate and read during plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stressed the urgent need to decentralise policing as part of broader efforts to tackle Nigeria’s growing security challenges.

According to the President, the current centralised policing structure under the Nigeria Police Force has become overstretched, making it difficult to effectively respond to emerging threats at the state and community levels. He noted that empowering states to establish and manage their own police formations would enhance intelligence gathering, improve rapid response, and strengthen accountability.

Tinubu argued that security has become increasingly localised, with criminal activities varying across regions, thereby necessitating a policing model that reflects local realities. He maintained that state police would complement, not replace, federal security agencies, adding that clear constitutional safeguards would be put in place to prevent abuse.

The proposal seeks amendments to relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution that currently vest policing powers exclusively in the Federal Government. If approved, the reform would allow states to create, fund, and regulate their own police services under defined federal standards.

The call for state police has long been debated within political and legal circles, with supporters insisting it would strengthen grassroots security architecture, while critics have raised concerns over possible political misuse by state governments.

Security experts say the President’s move signals a renewed push for restructuring Nigeria’s security framework amid rising cases of banditry, kidnapping, and communal clashes across parts of the country.

The Senate is expected to deliberate on the proposal in the coming weeks as part of ongoing constitutional review processes.