State Police: Tinubu Asks Senators to Review Constitution
President Bola Tinubu has called on the Senate to amend Nigeria’s constitution to accommodate the establishment of state police as part of efforts to strengthen internal security.
Tinubu made the appeal during a meeting with senators in Abuja, where he stressed the need for structural reforms to address persistent security challenges across the country.
According to the president, the current centralized policing system has placed enormous pressure on federal security agencies, making it necessary to explore complementary structures at the state level.
“We must be bold enough to reform our security architecture. The inclusion of state police in our constitution will enhance response time and improve community-based intelligence gathering,” Tinubu said.
He argued that state police would enable local authorities to respond more effectively to crime and insecurity within their jurisdictions.
The president also assured lawmakers that adequate safeguards would be incorporated to prevent abuse of the system and ensure accountability.
Debate over the creation of state police has persisted for years, with supporters citing the need for decentralized security, while critics warn of potential misuse by state governments.
Tinubu urged the National Assembly to prioritize the constitutional amendment process, describing security as a collective responsibility.
The Senate is expected to deliberate further on the proposal as part of ongoing constitutional review efforts.