President Bola Tinubu has declared that his administration will move to establish state police as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, insisting that the pledges he made before the 2023 general elections will not be delayed.
The President made the remarks on Monday night while hosting state governors to an interfaith breaking of fast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in observance of Ramadan and Lent.
Speaking at the event, Tinubu said security remains the bedrock of economic growth and national stability, warning that without safety, agriculture, commerce and family life cannot thrive.
“What I promised Nigerians will not be postponed,” the President said. “Security is the foundation of prosperity. Without it, farms cannot flourish, businesses cannot grow, and families cannot sleep in peace.
“We will establish state police to curb insecurity. This is not about politics; it is about practicality. It is about empowering states with the tools to protect their people while strengthening our national framework.”
The debate over state policing has intensified in recent years amid persistent attacks by armed groups, bandits and kidnappers across several states.
Critics of the current centralised policing structure have argued that governors, described as “chief security officers” of their states, lack operational control over security agencies, limiting their ability to respond swiftly to threats.
Tinubu also used the occasion to urge governors to intensify grassroots engagement, particularly during the religious season observed by Muslims and Christians.
“In this sacred season for two of the major faiths in our dear country, we are reminded that beyond politics and policy, we are first a people of conscience,” he said.
He challenged the governors to expand their outreach efforts to vulnerable Nigerians, including youths who feel marginalised and women burdened by economic hardship.
“To reach the young man who feels forgotten. To lift the woman who carries her family on tired shoulders. To touch the communities at the grassroots where hope sometimes flickers,” he said, adding that development must not be shaped by religion, tribe or status.
The President further declared that his administration is determined to “rescue” the country, expressing confidence that Nigeria will emerge safer and stronger if federal and state authorities work in unity.
The proposal for state police would require constitutional amendments, a process that demands approval by the National Assembly and endorsement by at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly.
Previous attempts at restructuring the country’s policing architecture have stalled amid concerns over potential abuse by state governments and political actors.
Tinubu, however, maintained that reforming the security framework is necessary.
“We must be bold enough to reform what is not working. We must be united enough to protect what we hold dear. Nigeria will be safer. Nigeria will be stronger,” he said.
