President Bola Tinubu has pledged to establish state police as part of broader measures to address insecurity across Nigeria, affirming that his administration will honor promises made to citizens ahead of the 2023 elections.
The President made the declaration on Monday night while hosting state governors at an interfaith breaking of the fast at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, bringing together Muslim and Christian leaders during Ramadan and Lent.
Addressing the governors, Tinubu emphasized that security underpins economic growth and social stability. “Security is the foundation of prosperity. Without it, farms cannot flourish, businesses cannot grow, and families cannot sleep in peace,” he said, noting that the proposed state police framework is guided by practical necessity rather than political calculation.
“We will establish state police to curb insecurity. This is not about politics; it is about practicality. It is about empowering states with the tools to protect their people while strengthening our national framework,” the President stated.
He called on governors to deepen engagement at the grassroots level, particularly in communities where development remains fragile, and urged leadership grounded in compassion, equity, and inclusion. “To reach the young man who feels forgotten. To lift the woman who carries her family on tired shoulders. To touch communities at the grassroots where hope sometimes flickers,” he said, challenging state chief executives to intensify local interventions.
Tinubu further reassured Nigerians that his reform agenda is on track. “What I promised Nigerians will not be postponed. We must be bold enough to reform what is not working. We must be united enough to protect what we hold dear,” he said.
The debate over state police has been longstanding, with proponents asserting it would enhance rapid response to local security threats, while critics caution against potential misuse by subnational authorities. Tinubu’s renewed commitment indicates that constitutional and structural reforms in the nation’s security architecture may soon reemerge as a key focus of national discourse.
