By our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to the leadership of the 10th Senate to amend the Constitution to create a legal framework for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
The President made the call on Wednesday during an interfaith breakfast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said the creation of state police had become urgent in view of Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, noting that decentralised policing would strengthen grassroots law enforcement and enable states to respond swiftly to threats within their jurisdictions.
According to him, a decentralised policing structure would complement the existing federal security architecture and promote intelligence-led, community-focused policing.
“We are facing terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. But we will never fail to make the right response to this cause. What I will ask for tonight is for you to start thinking about how best to amend the Constitution to incorporate state police so that we can secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, and free our children from fear,” the President said.
Tinubu also commended the cordial working relationship between the executive and the Senate, stressing that unity among political leaders was crucial to defeating terrorism and banditry.
“It is a good thing that we are working in harmony. We are looking forward to a country that evolves, a country that takes care of its citizens and protects all,” he added.
The President thanked the Senate for its support in implementing key economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and ongoing tax reforms. He described the reforms as bold steps taken to eliminate corruption and stabilise the economy.
“What we gave up and what we stopped is monumental corruption in the subsidy system. We do not want to participate in monumental corruption and arbitrage foreign exchange,” he said, adding that the country was now experiencing economic stability and renewed prospects for prosperity.
In his remarks, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended the President for hosting the leadership of the Senate at the interfaith event. He praised Tinubu’s leadership, describing it as visionary and timely.
Akpabio noted that the administration’s reforms had increased revenue allocations to sub-national governments, enabling governors to undertake critical infrastructure development. He also offered prayers for the administration, as well as for peace and prosperity in the country.
