President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally appealed to the leadership of the 10th Senate to initiate the process of amending the constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of State Police in Nigeria.
The President made the appeal on Wednesday during an interfaith breakfast hosted for Senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He emphasized that the creation of a decentralised police force has become an urgent necessity to effectively tackle the nation’s evolving security challenges.
Addressing the lawmakers, President Tinubu argued that State Police would strengthen grassroots policing and enhance the capacity of states to respond swiftly to security threats within their jurisdictions. He noted that such a structure would complement the existing federal security architecture by promoting intelligence-led and community-focused law enforcement.
“We are facing terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. But we will never fail to make a right response to this cause,” the President told the Senators.
“What I will ask for tonight is for you to start thinking how best to amend the constitution to incorporate the State Police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, and free our children from fear.”
President Tinubu commended the cordial relationship between the executive branch and the Senate, stressing that unity of purpose is essential to defeat the security threats plaguing the nation. He expressed optimism about the country’s trajectory, stating, “We are looking forward to a country that evolves, a country that takes care of its citizens and protects all.”
Beyond the security discussion, the President also used the occasion to thank the Senate for its unwavering support for his administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and the ongoing tax reform policies.
“I have a lot of credit for bold reforms. Without your collaboration and inspiration, those reforms would not be possible. We are reformists together,” Tinubu said. He described the previous subsidy regime as “monumental corruption,” adding, “What we gave up and what we stopped is monumental corruption in the subsidy system. We don’t want to participate in monumental corruption and arbitrage foreign exchange.”
He assured the lawmakers that the difficult decisions were yielding results, pointing to a more stable economy. “You don’t have to chase me for dollars; you could see what Nigeria is today. You should be proud, and I am glad you are. What we are enjoying is a stable economy, and prosperity is beckoning us. We need to work hard,” he added.
In his response, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended President Tinubu for the invitation and for providing what he described as visionary leadership at a critical time for the nation.
Akpabio noted that the administration’s bold reforms have increased revenue allocation to governors at the sub-national level, enabling them to develop critical infrastructure.
The Senate President offered prayers for the success of the administration and for the continued peace and prosperity of the nation.
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