Nigeria’s long-debated push to establish state police forces is edging closer to reality, with the Presidency announcing that a constitutional amendment required for the reform is expected in the coming weeks.
Speaking after a high-level consultative meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, said significant progress had been made towards creating a legal framework for state policing.
According to him, work on the initiative began several months ago following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with extensive consultations focused on addressing the constitutional and legal complexities surrounding the proposal.
“Establishing state police is not something that happens overnight. There are constitutional and legal issues that must be carefully addressed,” Gbajabiamila told reporters. “We have made considerable progress, and we are hopeful that the constitutional amendment will be unveiled shortly.”
He explained that discussions have now moved beyond the question of whether state police should be created, with stakeholders instead concentrating on the structure, powers and safeguards that would govern the system.
The constitutional amendment, he said, will serve as the foundation for subsequent legislation required to operationalise state police across the country.
Gbajabiamila added that growing consensus among political leaders and stakeholders reflects widespread support for the initiative, which many view as a crucial step towards strengthening security and improving local law enforcement across Nigeria.
The move comes amid increasing calls for decentralised policing as authorities seek more effective responses to security challenges in different parts of the country.
