Tinubu Calls for State Police Amendments

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested amendments to the proposed State Police Bill as the Federal Government continues efforts to reshape Nigeria’s policing structure through constitutional reforms.

The move comes amid growing national conversations over insecurity, the effectiveness of centralized policing, and increasing calls from state governments for greater control over internal security.

The proposed legislation, which seeks to establish state-controlled police forces alongside the Nigeria Police Force, has remained one of the most debated constitutional reforms in recent years. Supporters argue that decentralizing policing will improve intelligence gathering, enhance community-based security, and allow faster responses to local threats such as banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and communal violence.

Tinubu’s request for amendments is expected to refine aspects of the bill before it proceeds through the legislative process. While details of the proposed changes have not been fully disclosed, the review is understood to focus on strengthening constitutional safeguards, clarifying operational responsibilities, funding mechanisms, oversight structures, and the relationship between federal and state policing authorities.

The Presidency has consistently maintained that any transition to state policing must protect national unity while addressing the country’s evolving security challenges.

Nigeria currently operates a centralized police system, with the Nigeria Police Force under federal control. However, governors across several states have repeatedly argued that the existing arrangement limits their ability to respond effectively to security threats despite being designated as the chief security officers of their states.

The debate over state police has intensified in recent years as rising insecurity has placed increasing pressure on security agencies. Advocates believe locally recruited officers would possess better knowledge of their communities, languages, and terrain, making crime prevention and intelligence gathering more effective.

Opponents, however, continue to express concerns that state police could be abused by political office holders if sufficient constitutional safeguards are not established to guarantee professionalism, independence, and accountability.

The National Assembly is expected to consider the proposed amendments as deliberations on the constitutional alteration continue. If eventually approved, the reforms could mark one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s security architecture since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

The outcome of the amendment process will be closely watched by state governments, security experts, civil society organizations, and citizens, many of whom see policing reform as a critical step toward improving national security.