The Federal Government has moved closer to the creation of state police, with constitutional amendments needed for its implementation expected to be introduced in the near future.
Speaking after a high-level consultative meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, revealed that discussions on establishing state police have recorded substantial progress.
He explained that the initiative, which was directed by President Bola Tinubu several months ago, has advanced significantly following extensive consultations among key stakeholders.
According to him, the process requires careful constitutional and legal considerations, making it impossible to implement without following the appropriate legislative procedures.
Gbajabiamila noted that attention is currently focused on the constitutional amendments required to pave the way for state policing, while the supporting legislation will be developed afterwards.
He stated that the conversation has evolved beyond whether state police should exist, stressing that the main objective now is to create a legal and operational framework capable of supporting an effective system.
The President is expected to receive a detailed report from the meeting as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security structure through decentralised policing.
The proposed state police system is intended to improve internal security, boost intelligence gathering at the local level, and empower state governments to respond more effectively to security threats within their jurisdictions.
The meeting brought together senior government officials, lawmakers, security chiefs, and legal experts to discuss the framework required for the successful implementation of the initiative.
