President Bola Tinubu is expected to receive a comprehensive report on the proposed creation of state police as consultations on the constitutional framework for its establishment approach completion, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has disclosed.
Speaking after a high-level consultative meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Gbajabiamila said significant progress had been made on the initiative, with deliberations now focused on the constitutional amendments required to facilitate the establishment of state police across the country.
According to him, discussions on the proposed state policing structure began several months ago following a directive from President Tinubu, who has consistently advocated for the decentralisation of policing as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
“We started deliberations in the last three or four months on how to go about the establishment of state police as directed by Mr President,” Gbajabiamila said, noting that the process involves extensive constitutional and legal considerations.
He explained that the immediate priority is securing the necessary constitutional amendments, after which enabling legislation would be enacted to provide the legal framework for the operation of state police formations across the federation. The Chief of Staff added that the debate has largely shifted from whether Nigeria should establish state police to determining the most effective institutional and legal safeguards for its implementation.
Gbajabiamila disclosed that President Tinubu would be briefed on the outcome of the consultations and receive a comprehensive report detailing recommendations from the various stakeholders involved in the process.
The latest meeting forms part of ongoing consultations involving the Presidency, the National Assembly, security agencies, and other critical stakeholders aimed at developing a workable framework for state policing.
Proponents argue that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering at the grassroots level, strengthen community policing, and enhance the ability of state governments to respond swiftly to local security challenges.
Momentum for the reform has grown in recent months. In February, President Tinubu urged the National Assembly to begin the process of amending the Constitution to accommodate state police, describing the initiative as necessary to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges and strengthen grassroots law enforcement.
Similarly, the Senate has signalled its readiness to fast-track constitutional amendments relating to state police, while a committee inaugurated by the Inspector-General of Police earlier this year has submitted recommendations on the operational framework and transition process for the proposed policing model.
Nigeria currently operates a centrally controlled policing system under the Nigeria Police Force.
However, rising concerns over terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts, and other security threats have intensified calls for a decentralised policing structure that would allow states to establish and manage their own police services while maintaining coordination with federal authorities.
With consultations nearing completion and constitutional amendments now under active consideration, the proposed state police initiative appears to be moving closer to reality, marking what could become one of the most significant security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history.
