Tinubu Meets NASS Leaders Over Push for State Police

President Bola Tinubu has called an emergency meeting with National Assembly leaders to speed up constitutional changes needed to establish state police as part of efforts to address rising insecurity across Nigeria.

The meeting, expected to take place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, will focus on strategies for fast-tracking legislation that would allow state policing and strengthen local security structures. Presidency sources said the move follows growing concern over increasing cases of kidnapping, including attacks targeting schoolchildren, teachers and other vulnerable citizens.

A senior presidential aide, speaking anonymously because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said the President believes urgent action is needed to address gaps in the current security system.

“The President is deeply concerned about the worsening security situation, particularly the abduction of students and innocent citizens. He believes the country can no longer delay reforms that would improve policing and internal security,” the aide said.

According to the source, Tinubu views state police as an important part of his administration’s broader security reforms and is seeking the cooperation of lawmakers to ensure that pending constitutional amendments receive prompt consideration.

“The aim of the meeting is to build consensus and ensure that the necessary amendments are treated with urgency. Security has become a national emergency, and the President wants all stakeholders working together,” the aide added.

Debate Over State Police

The proposal for state police has long been one of the most debated issues in Nigeria’s constitutional and security discussions. Supporters argue that locally controlled police forces would improve intelligence gathering, response times and crime prevention. Critics, however, have warned that state governors could misuse state-controlled police units for political purposes.

Despite these concerns, support for the proposal has grown amid persistent challenges such as banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal violence across several parts of the country.

Security Concerns Intensify

Sources within the National Assembly confirmed that communication from the Presidency had been received and that legislative leaders were expected to meet with the President to discuss the framework for advancing the state police bill. The engagement is expected to include principal officers of both chambers and officials involved in the ongoing constitutional review process.

The renewed push comes as Nigerians express increasing anxiety over the safety of schools and communities. Stakeholders have warned that continued insecurity could contribute to declining school enrolment and a rise in the number of out-of-school children, estimated at about 18 million nationwide.

There are also concerns among security and electoral officials that persistent violence could threaten the peaceful conduct of future elections if left unchecked.

If approved, the establishment of state police would represent one of the most significant security reforms since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.

Recent months have seen a wave of mass abductions involving schoolchildren and teachers, including an attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where dozens of pupils and several teachers were reportedly kidnapped during morning assemblies. Many victims remain in captivity.