The Federal Government has moved closer to establishing state police, with discussions now focused on amending the Constitution before introducing the necessary enabling legislation.
Speaking after a high-level meeting on the proposed reform, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, said deliberations had progressed significantly and were now centered on the legal framework required to implement a decentralised policing system.
“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,” Gbajabiamila said.
He noted that national discussions had advanced beyond the question of whether state police should be created, stressing that attention was now on designing the structure and safeguards needed for its operation.
According to him, there is increasing consensus among stakeholders that state police are necessary to tackle the country’s persistent security challenges.
“The conversation has largely shifted from whether we need state police to how we can establish a workable legal and institutional framework that will make it effective,” he said.
The push for state police has intensified amid growing concerns over banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the country. Advocates argue that the current centralised policing model has placed excessive pressure on the Nigeria Police Force, making it difficult to respond effectively to local security threats.
Several states have already created regional security outfits, including Amotekun Corps, but these bodies currently operate without full constitutional recognition.
Gbajabiamila disclosed that a detailed report from the meeting would be submitted to Bola Ahmed Tinubu for further consideration as consultations continue.
The meeting brought together key government officials, including Jibrin Barau, Benjamin Kalu, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, and Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, among others.
Federal authorities maintain that a decentralised policing structure would strengthen grassroots security operations, improve intelligence gathering and provide better protection for lives and property across the country.
