A prominent chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ayodele Arise, has called on President Bola Tinubu's administration to urgently prioritize and accelerate the creation of state police forces to effectively combat Nigeria's escalating security challenges.
In statements made on Saturday, February 28, 2026, the former lawmaker emphasized that state policing represents the most effective approach to deterring criminals and disrupting their networks at the grassroots level.
He highlighted the advantages of local officers who can quickly spot anomalies and leverage community ties for intelligence gathering and investigations.
Senator Arise stated: “In the interest of our country and in response to the security challenges we have been facing, President Bola Tinubu has always seen the merit in state policing, which is actually the best way we can deter criminals and their cells in our communities without even knowing it.
"The local police are easily able to identify a strange situation and put intelligence to work and do their investigation because they are trained to know everybody because they relate with everyone like a family.”
He pointed to the worsening insecurity where lives are threatened and entire communities face annihilation as having shifted public opinion, making Nigerians more open to the idea compared to past resistance during the 2010 constitutional amendment efforts.
To enable state police, Arise recommended amending Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to move policing to the Concurrent Legislative List, allowing both federal and state forces to coexist.
He expressed optimism about swift progress, noting the APC's strong majority in the National Assembly and control over most state governments, which could see the amendment and implementation completed within months.
Addressing concerns about potential abuse by governors, the APC leader proposed safeguards through judicial oversight and accountability mechanisms, similar to those for federal police.
He suggested: “Any governor that indulges in human rights abuses can be called to question after leaving office.”
The call aligns with recent statements from President Tinubu urging the National Assembly during meetings with Senate and House leadership to embed state policing in the Constitution.
Arise stressed the need for collaboration between the federal government and governors, along with robust public enlightenment campaigns to highlight the benefits and address lingering doubts from opponents.
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