The President, represented by his Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, inaugurated the panel at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The inauguration followed the National Assembly’s passage of the Constitution Alteration State Police Bill 2026, in which the President proposes a dual policing structure made up of the Federal Police Service and thirty six State Police Services.
President Tinubu said the constitutional amendment provides the framework for state police, while the National Policing Bill will supply the legal structure needed for implementation.
He explained that the proposed legislation will address minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal and state coordination, accountability, human rights safeguards and fiscal conditions.
The President said the committee will produce an implementation ready draft bill immediately after the constitutional amendment process.
Gbajabiamila will serve as chairman of the committee. Members include the Attorney General of the Federation, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police and the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police. A Secretariat will provide administrative support.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, speaking for the NGF, pledged governors’ support for the speedy implementation of the reform. He said the plan is for all thirty six governors to accelerate work on the bill once it reaches their Houses of Assembly.
Abiodun described the proposed state police as a response to Nigerians’ long standing demand for community based policing and noted that regional security outfits such as Amotekun have shown the value of decentralised policing.
He added that state police would significantly increase the number of security personnel nationwide.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, said the initiative is timely given Nigeria’s security challenges and urged governors to ensure quick ratification of the constitutional amendment.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, restated the association’s support for state police but emphasised the need for legal safeguards to prevent abuse.
Also present at the inauguration were the Attorneys General and Commissioners for Justice of Plateau, Lagos and Ondo States, representatives of the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser and senior government officials.
President Tinubu said the constitutional amendment provides the framework for state police, while the National Policing Bill will supply the legal structure needed for implementation.
He explained that the proposed legislation will address minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal and state coordination, accountability, human rights safeguards and fiscal conditions.
The President said the committee will produce an implementation ready draft bill immediately after the constitutional amendment process.
Gbajabiamila will serve as chairman of the committee. Members include the Attorney General of the Federation, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police and the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police. A Secretariat will provide administrative support.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, speaking for the NGF, pledged governors’ support for the speedy implementation of the reform. He said the plan is for all thirty six governors to accelerate work on the bill once it reaches their Houses of Assembly.
Abiodun described the proposed state police as a response to Nigerians’ long standing demand for community based policing and noted that regional security outfits such as Amotekun have shown the value of decentralised policing.
He added that state police would significantly increase the number of security personnel nationwide.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, said the initiative is timely given Nigeria’s security challenges and urged governors to ensure quick ratification of the constitutional amendment.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, restated the association’s support for state police but emphasised the need for legal safeguards to prevent abuse.
Also present at the inauguration were the Attorneys General and Commissioners for Justice of Plateau, Lagos and Ondo States, representatives of the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser and senior government officials.
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