President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has thrown his full support behind the creation of state police, declaring it a “national imperative” as Nigeria battles growing insecurity across the country. The President said the time has come to amend the Constitution to allow states to set up their own police forces and better protect their communities.
Speaking through the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, at a high-level legislative dialogue on security and constitutional reform in Abuja on Monday, Tinubu said the current centralised security system is outdated and has failed to meet Nigeria’s complex security needs.
“The debate over state police is no longer theoretical. It is grounded in the daily fears and lived anxieties of Nigerians: farmers afraid to tend their fields, traders unsure of safe passage, and communities abandoned to self-help,” the president stated.
The event was organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Tinubu said Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, while foundational for the nation’s democracy, is no longer fit for purpose when it comes to handling 21st-century security threats like terrorism, cybercrime, farmer-herder clashes, and piracy.
He called for a bold constitutional amendment to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, enabling both federal and state governments to share responsibility for internal security.
“If we fail to reform, our Constitution risks becoming a danger to the very unity it was meant to protect,” Tinubu warned.
The president also acknowledged improvements made in recent months through joint operations between the armed forces and the Office of the National Security Adviser. He pointed to the successes of coordinated efforts in breaking up terrorist camps in the North-East, reducing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and tackling banditry in the North-West.
However, he stressed that these short-term gains must be backed by long-term structural reforms, especially through the creation of localised, community-based police forces.
“Security in the 21st century is cooperative, not competitive. No single agency or tier of government can address these threats alone,” he said.
Tinubu also raised concerns over Nigeria’s porous borders, which he said allow easy movement of illegal weapons and criminals. He called for clearer constitutional roles for federal and state actors in securing Nigeria’s borders.
The president listed several efforts his administration has already taken, including the setup of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre and the approval of a community policing framework. But he said these efforts need strong legal backing to be truly effective.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, in his remarks, described the dialogue as timely and necessary. He said the House is committed to updating laws to reflect the reality on the ground, especially in addressing terrorism, banditry, oil theft, and militancy.
He also noted that the security bills under review, including the proposed establishment of state police, would help reposition the national security architecture.
Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, said the review process must be guided by feedback from those on the frontlines of the country’s security challenges.
“As lawmakers, we must base our reforms on accurate diagnoses. We are here to listen to those who wear the shoes and know where it pinches,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, called for constitutional and legal reforms to clarify military roles during internal operations. He proposed amendments to the Armed Forces Act and the establishment of field court martials across military commands.
Musa also recommended giving the military power to detain suspects during internal security operations, legally recognising courts-martial as superior courts, and allowing the Nigerian Navy to work more closely with Customs and Immigration to secure inland waterways.
“Security is not just about military hardware; it’s about legal clarity, institutional strength, and public trust,” the Defence Chief added.
In his contribution, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, represented by Major General Adamu Laka, said constitutional reform is vital to Nigeria’s stability and unity. He called for a decentralised and responsive legal system that reflects the current needs of Nigerians.
“The Constitution must evolve to reflect the hopes and challenges of Nigerians. This is not just about governance—it’s about survival,” Ribadu said.
As insecurity continues to pose a threat to lives and livelihoods across the country, the call for state police and broader security reforms appears to be gaining momentum at both federal and legislative levels.
