By Seun Ibiyemi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill to develop the legal framework required for the implementation of state police across Nigeria, marking a significant step towards operationalising the country’s proposed dual policing system.
The President, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, inaugurated the committee on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, following the passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, by the National Assembly.
The constitutional amendment seeks to establish a dual policing structure comprising the Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services.
However, President Tinubu explained that while the amendment provides the constitutional basis for state police, a separate National Policing Bill is required to define its operational framework.
“The Constitution Amendment Bill establishes the framework for dual policing, but it does not operationalise it. That work is left to the National Policing Bill,” the President said.
According to Tinubu, the proposed legislation will provide detailed provisions on minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal-state coordination, accountability mechanisms, human rights safeguards and fiscal requirements necessary for the successful implementation of state police.
He said the committee had been tasked with producing a technically sound and implementation-ready draft bill for transmission to the National Assembly immediately after the constitutional amendment process is concluded.
“We must not wait until the constitutional process is concluded before beginning this important assignment,” he stated, stressing the need to avoid delays in implementing the reform.
Gbajabiamila will chair the committee, which includes the Attorney-General of the Federation, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police and the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police. A secretariat will provide administrative support to the panel.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun pledged the commitment of state governors to fast-track the constitutional amendment through their respective state Houses of Assembly.
He described the state police initiative as a response to longstanding calls for community-based policing and decentralisation of security responsibilities.
Abiodun noted that successful regional security initiatives such as the South-West’s Amotekun Corps had demonstrated the viability of sub-national policing.
He added that the establishment of state police would significantly boost Nigeria’s security manpower.
“If each state deploys about 6,000 personnel, we will add nearly 200,000 officers to complement the existing federal police,” he said.
The governor also commended President Tinubu for initiating implementation planning ahead of the completion of the constitutional amendment process, describing the move as evidence of proactive governance.
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Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the initiative as timely, given the country’s prevailing security challenges.
He urged governors to ensure the speedy ratification of the constitutional amendment by their state legislatures, describing the process as a shared national responsibility.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, also endorsed the state police initiative, arguing that Nigeria could no longer be effectively secured through a single national police structure.
While backing the reform, Osigwe stressed the importance of strong legal safeguards to prevent abuse of state police powers.
“We must ensure we do not create a monster. The right legal framework must guarantee accountability and prevent oppression,” he said.
He pledged the NBA’s support for the committee in drafting legislation that would strengthen national security while protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens.
The inauguration was attended by Attorneys-General and Commissioners for Justice from Plateau, Lagos and Ondo states, representatives of the Inspector-General of Police and the National Security Adviser, as well as other senior government officials.
