President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill to the Senate seeking the establishment of state police across Nigeria, in a move widely regarded as one of the most significant security reforms since the return to democratic rule.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to create a legal framework that would empower individual states to establish, regulate and operate their own police forces.
The move forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to decentralise policing and strengthen security architecture across the country amid persistent security challenges.
President Tinubu has repeatedly advocated constitutional reforms to enable state policing, arguing that a decentralised security system is crucial to tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
In February, the President urged the National Assembly to prioritise the creation of state police, describing it as a necessary measure to improve security and enhance law enforcement at the grassroots level.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to national security during his Democracy Day address, Tinubu warned that terrorists and their sponsors would face the full force of the law.
He also disclosed that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised over the past year, resulting in a significant reduction in terror-related fatalities.
Despite the reported gains, the President acknowledged that security challenges remain, including the continued captivity of some abducted schoolchildren in parts of the country.
The push for state policing has gained momentum in recent months, with both chambers of the National Assembly advancing constitutional amendment processes aimed at restructuring Nigeria’s security framework.
The Senate is expected to reconvene for an emergency plenary session to consider the bill, which could pave the way for a fundamental transformation of policing and internal security operations across the federation.
More details to follow.
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