President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed during a courtesy visit from Katsina State officials at the Presidential Villa in Abuja that the establishment of state police is no longer optional, it’s a necessity. Emphasizing that insecurity must be confronted decisively, he declared:
“I have to create state police… We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, our people, our livelihood, our places of worship, and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us.”
He also underscored the holistic need for local security forces rooted in their communities’ terrains and cultures.
Deploying Technology and Local Forces
President Tinubu directed immediate reassessment of security operations in Katsina State, particularly in light of escalating banditry. Amidst that challenge, he approved the acquisition of drones, advanced military hardware, and capacity upgrades for newly recruited forest guards to reinforce security intelligence and response.
From Dialogue to Constitutional Reform
This announcement builds upon earlier advocacy for state policing:
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In April 2024, during a National Dialogue on “Reimagining Policing in Nigeria,” Tinubu’s administration described state policing as a potential milestone, a strategy to make law enforcement more responsive to local needs.
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By June 2025, Tinubu had escalated his position, calling for constitutional reforms to move policing from a purely federal function to the Concurrent Legislative List, enabling states with capacity and political will to establish their own police forces. He characterized the debate on state policing as grounded in the everyday fears of Nigerians.
Balancing Reform with Safeguards
Despite broad support, challenges remain:
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The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, cautioned that Nigeria may not yet be mature enough for state-controlled police forces, raising concerns about political misuse and ethnic tensions. He suggested reforms should instead focus on strengthening existing federal institutions.
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Security experts and stakeholders have echoed both the potential benefits, such as localized knowledge, accountability, and community policing, as well as the risks, including politicization and funding challenges.
Why This Move Matters Now
Nigeria finds itself grappling with a spectrum of security threats; from banditry and kidnapping in the Northwest to farmer–herder conflicts in the Middle Belt and rising separatist agitation in the Southeast—straining the capacity of a centralized policing system. Tinubu’s push for state police reflects the urgent need to adapt Nigeria’s security architecture to its complex and diverse realities.
Moreover, recent violent incidents across the nation, especially in regions like Benue State where over 150 lives were lost in a single attack, reinforce the pressing demand for more responsive and localized security frameworks.
Pen-dropping Toward a More Secure Nigeria
President Tinubu’s advocacy for state police signals a bold reimagining of Nigeria’s security landscape. By blending modern technology, constitutional reform, and localized policing, his administration aims to restore public trust, enhance responsiveness, and confront insecurity with renewed vigor.
As the debate transitions from dialogue to legislative action, the success of this initiative will hinge on balancing national cohesion, accountability, and community protection, a delicate yet vital trifecta in securing Nigeria’s future.
Source: Statehouse
