President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially launched the process of establishing state police in Nigeria with the inauguration of a Presidential Working Group charged with drafting the National Policing Bill. The initiative marks a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to reform the country’s security architecture by creating the legal framework for state policing.
The committee, inaugurated at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, is expected to develop the legislative and operational framework that will guide the implementation of state police across the federation, following ongoing constitutional reforms and consultations with key stakeholders.
Representing the President at the inauguration, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila described the initiative as a landmark effort to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture by bringing policing closer to the people.
According to the Presidency, the proposed legislation will define the structure, responsibilities, operational guidelines, accountability mechanisms, and oversight framework for state police services while ensuring effective collaboration with federal security agencies.
The Working Group comprises representatives from the federal and state governments, the judiciary, legal practitioners, security institutions, and other relevant stakeholders. Their assignment includes producing a comprehensive draft bill that addresses constitutional, operational, and funding issues surrounding state policing.
The move comes amid growing calls for the decentralisation of policing as a strategy to tackle rising insecurity, kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activities across different parts of the country.
While advocates argue that state police will improve intelligence gathering and enhance community-based security, critics have continued to express concerns over possible political interference and abuse by state governments.
The inauguration of the panel signals the Federal Government’s determination to translate long-standing discussions on state police into a workable legal and institutional framework, with the National Policing Bill expected to serve as the foundation for its eventual implementation.
