Manny Ita –
President Bola Tinubu has formally appealed to the 10th Senate to initiate amendments to the 1999 Constitution to provide a clear legal framework for the establishment of State Police across the federation, stressing that the reform has become urgent in the face of “evolving security challenges” confronting the country.
The President’s appeal was conveyed in a communication to the Senate leadership, where he underscored the need for structural changes in Nigeria’s policing architecture to effectively combat banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and other violent crimes that have persisted in several parts of the country. He argued that the current centralized policing system is overstretched and requires complementary structures at the subnational level to enhance response time, intelligence gathering and community-based security management.
Tinubu noted that Nigeria’s security realities have significantly changed since the promulgation of the 1999 Constitution, insisting that constitutional reforms must reflect present-day threats. “The dynamics of insecurity have evolved beyond what a single, centrally controlled policing system can efficiently manage,” he stated, adding that empowering states with constitutionally backed police structures would strengthen grassroots security operations.
He emphasized that the proposed amendment would not dismantle the Nigeria Police Force but would instead create a coordinated system in which federal and state policing institutions operate within clearly defined jurisdictions. According to him, such collaboration would ensure accountability while preserving national unity. “This is not about weakening federal authority; it is about reinforcing our collective capacity to secure lives and property,” he said.
The President further assured lawmakers that safeguards would be embedded in the constitutional framework to prevent abuse, politicization, or misuse of state-controlled security outfits. He explained that operational guidelines, oversight mechanisms and intergovernmental checks would form part of the legislative process to guarantee professionalism and adherence to human rights standards.
Tinubu urged the Senate to treat the proposal with urgency, describing insecurity as a direct threat to economic growth, food security and foreign investment. He warned that failure to adopt innovative security strategies could undermine ongoing reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy and restoring public confidence.
The call for State Police has long generated national debate, with supporters arguing that decentralized policing would improve intelligence-driven operations and community trust, while critics have expressed concerns over possible political interference by state governments. However, the President maintained that constitutional clarity and institutional safeguards would address such fears.
Lawmakers are expected to deliberate on the proposal as part of the broader constitutional review process. If passed by the National Assembly and ratified by the required number of state Houses of Assembly, the amendment would mark one of the most significant security reforms since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
