President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again emphasised the urgent need for state police forces in Nigeria’s 36 states, identifying it as a crucial step in combating the rising wave of insecurity affecting the nation. Speaking at the Presidential Villa during a visit from Katsina State officials led by Governor Dikko Radda, Tinubu said, “I have to create a state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity.”
The President acknowledged the significant security challenges Nigeria faces, pointing to the systemic weaknesses that have been inherited but affirming that they can be overcome. He stressed, “We must protect our children, our people, our livelihoods, our places of worship, and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us.”
To bolster security efforts, Tinubu revealed the federal government’s plan to deploy advanced military hardware, drones, and surveillance technology, particularly in high-risk zones such as Katsina, where banditry has escalated. He also directed all security agencies to provide daily operational reports to his office to ensure greater accountability and responsiveness.
The push for state police has gained considerable backing from state governors and the Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, many of whom argue that decentralising policing will help address the unique security concerns of Nigeria’s diverse regions. Tinubu reiterated the need for constitutional amendments to make this decentralisation possible, describing the current 1999 Constitution as outdated and inadequate to meet the country’s modern security challenges.
“The debate over State Police is no longer theoretical. It is grounded in the daily fears and live anxieties of Nigerians: farmers afraid to tend their fields, traders unsure of safe passage, and communities abandoned to self-help,” the President remarked.
