By Ado Oyeyemi
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of state police to the Senate, marking a major step toward restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture.
The proposed legislation aims to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal basis for the creation and operation of state police across the country.
The move is in line with growing demands for decentralised policing and follows repeated calls by the President for constitutional reforms that would empower states to play a more active role in securing their territories.
Tinubu had, in February, urged the National Assembly to initiate constitutional amendments to accommodate state police, describing the initiative as critical to addressing persistent security challenges, including terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.
Reiterating his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity, the President, during his Democracy Day address earlier this month, vowed that terrorists, bandits and their sponsors would face decisive action from the government.
He maintained that no leniency would be extended to individuals threatening the nation’s peace and stability.
According to Tinubu, security operations carried out over the past year have led to the elimination of more than 13,000 terrorists, while terrorism-related fatalities have declined significantly compared to previous years.
Despite the gains, the President acknowledged that the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno states remains a stark reminder of the security concerns confronting the nation.
The push for state police has gathered momentum in recent months, with both chambers of the National Assembly advancing constitutional amendment proposals aimed at devolving policing powers to state governments.
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Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to reconvene for an emergency plenary session to consider the bill as lawmakers move to advance what could become one of the most significant security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history.
