By Opeyemi Adelakun
President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated a high-powered Presidential Working Group to draft the legal framework for implementing state police across Nigeria, signalling a major step toward the country’s proposed dual policing system.
The committee, chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, includes the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police and a secretariat.
Represented by Gbajabiamila at the inauguration in Abuja on Tuesday, Tinubu said the panel was established to produce an implementation-ready National Policing Bill that would operationalise the proposed state police system after the constitutional amendment process.
He explained that while the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, recently passed by the Senate, provides the constitutional basis for a dual policing structure, a separate law is required to define how the system will function.
According to the President, the proposed legislation will address key issues, including minimum policing standards, state readiness, coordination between federal and state police, accountability mechanisms, protection of human rights, personnel transition and funding requirements.
Tinubu said the committee would also recommend additional legal instruments needed to ensure a smooth transition to the new policing structure, stressing that work should begin before the constitutional amendment process is completed.
Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the initiative as timely, citing Nigeria’s growing security challenges. He urged state governors to work with their Houses of Assembly to ensure the speedy ratification of the constitutional amendment once transmitted.
NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), reaffirmed the association’s support for state police but emphasised the need for strong legal safeguards to prevent abuse of power and protect citizens’ rights.
Speaking on behalf of the governors, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun pledged the support of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, expressing confidence that all 36 state legislatures would expedite consideration of the constitutional amendment.
Abiodun said the proposed reform reflects Nigerians’ long-standing demand for community-based policing and would build on the successes recorded by regional security outfits such as Amotekun.
He added that if every state recruits about 6,000 personnel, nearly 200,000 additional officers could be deployed nationwide to complement the existing federal police workforce.
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