Presidency: State Police Bill to Become Law ‘Shortly’

…Constitutional amendment expected in weeks, says Gbajabiamil

…Tinubu to receive full report as broad national support emerges

…Debate shifts from ‘if’ to ‘how’ state police will operate

The Presidency has announced that the constitutional framework for the establishment of state police in Nigeria is near completion, with a constitutional amendment expected to be presented “shortly,” following months of high-level consultations among the Executive, the National Assembly, and security authorities.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House Correspondents after a consultative meeting on state police convened by the Presidency at the State House, Abuja.

Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, said deliberations on the proposed state police framework began three to four months ago following a direct directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the process has since gained “considerable traction.”

“Establishing state police is not something that you do with the snap of the fingers. There is a lot involved in terms of constitution and legalities, and thank God we have now gained a lot of traction,” Gbajabiamila told correspondents.

“Hopefully, the amendment will come shortly, and the details of the amendment will come after that.”

The Chief of Staff explained that discussions have now advanced to the point of considering the necessary constitutional amendments, with the enabling legislation to follow afterwards. He outlined a clear two-step legislative process.

“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,” he added.

His remarks suggest that the proposed amendment will alter the current constitutional provisions that establish a single, unified police force for the entire federation. Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution currently vests police powers exclusively in the Nigeria Police Force.

Gbajabiamila highlighted what he described as broad national support for the initiative, emphasising that the debate is no longer about whether state police should be established but about creating the appropriate legal and institutional framework for its operation.

“The conversation has moved from ‘whether’ to ‘how’,” a senior official at the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media, told newsmen.

The Chief of Staff said President Tinubu, who has consistently advocated for state police as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, would receive a comprehensive report on the meeting’s outcome.

President Tinubu has maintained in the last several months that state police is a necessary response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, advocating that a decentralised policing structure would strengthen grassroots security, enhance intelligence gathering, and improve the protection of lives and property across the country.

The President’s position reflects growing concerns over banditry, kidnapping, and farmer-herder clashes that have plagued several states, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions. Proponents of state police argue that state governments are better positioned to respond to localised security threats than a centrally controlled force.

However, critics have raised concerns about potential abuse by state governors, including the possibility of using state police to harass political opponents or suppress dissent. They also point to the risk of ethnic or religious bias in states where political power is concentrated in one group.

Thursday’s meeting was attended by a cross-section of senior government and security officials, underscoring the administration’s commitment to the initiative.

Those present included:

· Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau
· Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu
· Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN)
· Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu
· Other senior government officials and security advisers

The presence of the Attorney-General is particularly significant, as his office will be responsible for drafting the constitutional amendment bill and ensuring its alignment with existing laws. The Inspector-General’s attendance suggests that the police leadership is being consulted on operational aspects of the proposed reform.

The meeting was part of a series of consultations convened by the Federal Government to develop a workable framework for the establishment of state police.

This initiative aims to strengthen internal security, improve local intelligence gathering, and enhance the capacity of sub-national governments to address emerging security challenges across the country.

Calls for state police have intensified over the past decade as the Nigeria Police Force, with approximately 370,000 personnel, has struggled to effectively police a nation of over 200 million people. Several state governments, particularly in the South-West and North-West, have established regional security networks such as Amotekun and the Community Protection Guards, but these lack constitutional backing and operate largely in auxiliary roles.

President Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023, had previously supported state police during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State (1999–2007) and as a presidential candidate. If successfully implemented, Nigeria would join other federal nations like the United States and India in operating multiple tiers of police forces.