Tinubu’s Backing of State Police Seen as Game-Changer in Nigeria’s Security Landscape
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has hailed President Bola Tinubu’s open support for state police as a groundbreaking move that could redefine Nigeria’s internal security framework.
In a statement signed by Chairman Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary Dapo Okubanjo, the group described the development as not only historic but also consistent with Tinubu’s long-standing advocacy for decentralised policing.
“The first real attempt to provide a legal framework for state police was in 2018 when then Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu pushed a bill, but it collapsed. He tried again in 2020—still, nothing came of it,” the statement noted.
According to TMSG, the tide now appears to be shifting, with both chambers of the National Assembly actively working on a state police bill just as President Tinubu throws his full weight behind it.
“This is a loud signal to lawmakers who will soon resume plenary: Nigerians expect action. The time has come to amend section 214 of the 1999 Constitution, which limits the country to a purely federal policing system,” the group stated.
The group stressed that Tinubu’s stance is unprecedented. Unlike past leaders who only lent their voices after leaving power, Tinubu has chosen to push the reform while still in office.
“Former President Goodluck Jonathan only began championing state police after his exit. Muhammadu Buhari, on the other hand, shut down the idea outright in 2022, citing fears of abuse by state governments,” TMSG recalled.
The support group expressed optimism that Tinubu will introduce safeguards to prevent governors from turning state police into political tools.
“There are already signs that the federal government may create a supervisory body to set uniform standards and curb excesses. Clearly, the President is determined that political concerns must not derail urgently needed security reforms,” the statement added.
TMSG concluded that the state police initiative, once implemented, could become one of the most enduring legacies of Tinubu’s presidency—a bold reform capable of finally addressing Nigeria’s chronic security challenges.
The group expressed confidence that Tinubu will implement mechanisms to prevent abuse or politicisation of state police by governors. “There are already indications that the federal government may be working on safeguards against possible misuse of state police by putting the process under the control of a central body to ensure a unified standard.” “So it is not likely that the state police that the President envisages will be one that will be exclusively under the control of governors.” “This is why the President was emphatic that while political concerns will always surface around the issue, they must not be allowed to derail urgent security reforms.” The group believes that the state police option would meet its objectives, ending up as one of the far-reaching legacies of the Bola Tinubu administration.
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