The Presidency has disclosed that efforts to establish state police in Nigeria have reached an advanced stage, with constitutional amendment processes reportedly nearing completion amid growing concerns over insecurity across the country.
The announcement comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with rising cases of kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and attacks on rural communities, prompting renewed calls for a decentralised policing structure capable of responding more effectively to local security challenges.
According to the Presidency, ongoing consultations and legislative processes aimed at creating a legal framework for state police have recorded significant progress. Officials expressed optimism that the proposed constitutional amendments would strengthen security governance and improve intelligence gathering at the state and community levels.
The issue of state police has remained a major subject of national debate for years, with supporters arguing that governors and local authorities are better positioned to understand and respond to security threats within their jurisdictions. Advocates also maintain that decentralised policing would improve response times and enhance community-based security efforts.
However, concerns have also been raised by critics who fear that state police structures could be abused by political officeholders for partisan purposes. Despite these concerns, growing insecurity across several regions has increased pressure on policymakers to pursue reforms.
The Presidency stated that the proposed reforms are designed to address emerging security realities while incorporating safeguards to prevent abuse and ensure accountability within any future state policing framework.
The latest development comes amid increasing calls from political leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and regional groups for comprehensive security reforms to tackle the country’s worsening security crisis.
