The Federal Government has restated its commitment to establishing state police, saying Nigeria is ready for decentralised policing once the required legal framework is in place.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said President Bola Tinubu remains committed to making the reform a reality after the necessary legislation is secured. He said decentralised policing has become increasingly important as the country confronts evolving security threats.
Idris said the President had already appealed to the National Assembly to enact the laws needed to pave the way for state police. The minister spoke during a courtesy visit by the Centre for Crisis Communication, led by its chairman, retired Major General Chris Olukolade, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The renewed position follows recent remarks by Tinubu in support of state police as part of efforts to address persistent insecurity across the country. The Presidency has said the proposal is aimed at strengthening security response at the sub-national level and improving protection for communities.
State police has remained one of the most debated security reforms in Nigeria, with supporters arguing that a decentralised structure would improve local intelligence, speed up response time, and help states address crimes that are often community-based.
The reform, however, will require constitutional and legislative backing before it can take effect.
