Constitutional amendment expected soon, as Nigeria moves closer to establishing State Police

The Federal Government’s plan to decentralize law enforcement has moved closer to reality, with a constitutional amendment to establish state police expected to be presented soon.

This major legislative shift follows months of extensive consultations among the Executive, the National Assembly, and top security officials.

Briefing State House correspondents on Thursday after a high-level consultative meeting at the State House in Abuja, the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, revealed that the process has gained significant momentum.

According to Gbajabiamila, the deliberations began three to four months ago following a direct directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He emphasized that creating a state police system is a complex legal undertaking that requires meticulous planning and cannot be rushed.

“Establishing state police is not something that you do with the snap of the fingers.”

“There is a lot involved in terms of constitution and legalities, and thank God we have now gained a lot of traction. Hopefully, the amendment will come shortly, and the details of the amendment will come after that,” Gbajabiamila stated.

The Chief of Staff explained that the current focus of the deliberations is the constitutional amendment itself, which will pave the way for the drafting and passage of the necessary enabling legislation.

Gbajabiamila highlighted that the national conversation has fundamentally shifted.

The debate is no longer centered on whether Nigeria needs state policing, but rather on how to design and implement the appropriate legal and institutional frameworks to govern its operations effectively.

President Tinubu, a long-standing advocate for decentralized law enforcement, will receive a comprehensive report detailing the outcomes of the latest meeting.

The consultative meeting underscores a unified approach among the different arms of government to overhaul the country’s security architecture.

Key officials in attendance at the strategic session included the Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi; and the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu.