President Bola Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency and expressed full support for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to curb rising violence across the country.
Speaking during a high-level security briefing at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu said recent attacks in several states, especially cases of kidnapping, banditry, and communal clashes, show that Nigeria must overhaul its current security structure to better protect citizens.
According to the President, the federal government cannot ignore the escalating situation, adding that state policing has become “a necessary reform” to allow faster response and improved intelligence gathering at the local level.
He said the new emergency framework would coordinate the military, police, DSS, and local security networks to strengthen early warning systems and prevent attacks before they occur.
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Tinubu told the gathering:
“Nigeria cannot afford to continue losing innocent lives. We are declaring a national security emergency that will mobilise every resource at the federal, state, and local levels. State police, properly regulated, is now an urgent national need.”
The President directed security agencies to intensify operations in vulnerable communities, while governors were asked to share real-time intelligence and expand community-based security initiatives.
The Senate and House of Representatives are expected to begin accelerated work on constitutional amendments to create state police forces once the executive submits its final proposal.