KEY POINTS

• Tinubu vows to establish state police to address insecurity.
• President reaffirms commitment to 2023 campaign promises.
• State police reform would require constitutional amendments.

President tells governors security reform will not be delayed as he reaffirms 2023 campaign commitments

He said his administration will establish state police to address insecurity, framing the proposal as a practical reform rather than a political move.Tinubu made the remarks late Tuesday while hosting state governors to an interfaith breaking of the fast at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The gathering coincided with Ramadan and the Christian Lenten season.

Tinubu Pushes State Police Reform

He used the occasion to urge governors to intensify outreach to vulnerable communities and reaffirmed his commitment to delivering on campaign promises made before taking office in 2023. “I am determined to rescue this country,” Tinubu said. “What I promised Nigerians will not be postponed.”

Tinubu described security as the foundation of economic growth, arguing that farms, businesses and households depend on safety and stability.

“We will establish state police to curb insecurity. This is not about politics; it is about practicality,” he said. “It is about empowering states with the tools to protect their people while strengthening our national framework.”

The president has previously signaled support for decentralizing policing authority, a long-debated issue in Nigeria’s federal structure. Advocates argue state-level policing could improve response times and local accountability, while critics have raised concerns about oversight and potential abuse.

Governors Urged to Deepen Grassroots Outreach

During the meeting, Tinubu commended governors for their efforts during the religious season but called for renewed focus on grassroots communities.

“To reach the young man who feels forgotten. To lift the woman who carries her family on tired shoulders,” he said, adding that development must transcend religious and ethnic lines.

He further emphasized that reforms require cooperation across levels of government and reiterated his administration’s resolve to address structural challenges. “We must be bold enough to reform what is not working. We must be united enough to protect what we hold dear,” Tinubu said.

Finally, the proposal to establish state police would require constitutional amendments, meaning the presidency will need legislative backing and support from state assemblies to move forward.