The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is set to forward its proposal on establishing state police to the National Security Adviser, with plans for the document to be submitted to the National Assembly for legislative review.
Chairman of the forum and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, disclosed this on Sunday following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos.
AbdulRazaq explained that discussions on state policing are ongoing among security stakeholders under the coordination of the National Security Adviser, and that governors have formally contributed to the process.
“On the issue of state police, discussions are ongoing among various security organisations, led by the National Security Adviser, and the NGF has made its contribution. That document will be taken to the National Assembly to establish a legislative framework for state police,” he said.
He added that state governments are committed to strengthening collaboration with security agencies to tackle insecurity and improve citizens’ welfare.
“As governors, we commit to renewing our collaboration with security forces to steadily defeat terrorism, expand infrastructure opportunities, and improve the lives of our people,” AbdulRazaq stated.
The announcement comes as President Tinubu pushes for constitutional amendments to allow the creation of state police to address Nigeria’s growing security challenges. Speaking during a meeting with senators in Abuja, Tinubu urged lawmakers to begin the process of decentralising policing.
“What I ask is for you to start thinking about how best to amend the Constitution to incorporate state police, to secure our country, protect our forests from marauders, and free our children from fear,” he said.
Nigeria continues to face widespread insecurity, including banditry in the North-West, insurgency in the North-East, kidnappings, and attacks on rural communities, all of which have intensified calls for state-controlled policing.
While supporters argue that state police would improve intelligence gathering and response times, critics warn that without strict safeguards, the system could be misused by governors for political purposes. Any establishment of state police would require constitutional amendments approved by the National Assembly and ratified by state houses of assembly.
