Tinubu Reaffirms State Police: Is Nigeria Ready for Local Policing?
State Police in Nigeria: Tinubu Pledges 'Practical' Reform to Curb Insecurity
By [Ohizu Chibuike Paschal] | February 24, 2026
In a major move toward decentralizing power, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again reaffirmed his administration's determination to establish State Police. Speaking during an interfaith Iftar on Monday night, the President emphasized that security is the foundation of economic prosperity and cannot be "postponed."
Why State Police? Why Now?
The President argues that the current centralized model is no longer sufficient for a country of over 200 million people. By moving toward state-level policing, the government aims to empower those who understand the local terrain to protect their own communities.
“This is not about politics,” Tinubu told the gathered governors. “It is about practicality. We must be bold enough to reform what is not working.”
The Great Debate: Safety vs. Tyranny
While many Nigerians celebrate this as a "true federalism" win, critics remain cautious. The two biggest fears are:
- Political Abuse: Will governors use state police to intimidate political opponents?
- Funding: Can states currently struggling to pay the minimum wage afford to maintain a modern police force?
Despite these concerns, the National Assembly is already fast-tracking discussions on the constitutional amendments needed to make this a reality before the 2027 elections.
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