President Bola Tinubu has held a closed-door meeting with Nigeria’s service chiefs and top security officials as concerns over insecurity continue across the country, while the Northern Governors’ Forum and traditional rulers have thrown their weight behind the establishment of state police.
The security meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja focused on the country’s evolving security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence. Although officials did not disclose details of the discussions, the meeting is understood to be part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security operations nationwide.
Meanwhile, support for state police continues to gather momentum. The Northern Governors’ Forum, alongside the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, endorsed the creation of state-controlled police services, arguing that decentralised policing is essential to tackling the country’s growing security threats. They maintained that governors and local authorities are better positioned to respond quickly to crimes within their states.
The endorsement comes just days after President Tinubu inaugurated the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill to develop the legal framework for implementing state police following the Senate’s progress on the constitutional amendment. Supporters believe the reform will improve intelligence gathering, community policing and emergency response, while also easing the burden on the Nigeria Police Force.
Despite the growing consensus, some stakeholders have called for strong legal safeguards to prevent political abuse, ensure adequate funding and maintain federal oversight. Security experts say the success of state policing will ultimately depend on clear constitutional provisions, accountability mechanisms and cooperation between federal and state security agencies.
