Abuja, June 4, 2026 – The Presidency has announced that significant progress has been made toward the establishment of state police in Nigeria, with a constitutional amendment expected to be introduced soon.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House Correspondents after a consultative meeting on state police held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Gbajabiamila, discussions on the proposed state police framework began several months ago following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He noted that the consultations involving the Executive, the National Assembly, and security agencies have gained substantial momentum.
He explained that the creation of state police requires extensive constitutional and legal considerations, stressing that the process cannot be rushed.
Gbajabiamila stated that attention is currently focused on the necessary constitutional amendments, while enabling legislation would be developed afterward to support the implementation of the initiative.
He added that national conversations have moved beyond debating whether state police should exist, with stakeholders now concentrating on developing the appropriate legal and institutional framework for its operation.
The Chief of Staff said President Tinubu, a long-time advocate of state policing, would receive a comprehensive report on the outcome of the meeting.
The Federal Government has been holding a series of consultations aimed at creating a workable framework for state police, an initiative expected to strengthen internal security, improve intelligence gathering at the grassroots level, and enhance the ability of state governments to respond to emerging security threats.
President Tinubu has repeatedly argued that a decentralized policing system is necessary to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges and improve the protection of lives and property nationwide.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, and other senior government officials.
