₦airaland Forum

“Nigeria is Out of the Woods” — Tinubu Vows No Delay for State Police
https://247ureports.com/2026/02/nigeria-is-out-of-the-woods-tinubu-vows-no-delay-for-state-police/
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ABUJA, FCT – President Bola Tinubu has declared that the establishment of state police is no longer a matter of debate but a pending reality, vowing that the move to decentralise law enforcement will not be delayed.

Speaking at a high-level security and economic summit in Abuja on Monday, February 23, 2026, the President also gave an optimistic assessment of the nation’s fiscal health, asserting that Nigeria’s economy has finally “steered out of the woods” following years of turbulence.

The Push for State Policing

The President’s remarks come amidst heightened calls from the National Economic Council (NEC) and the 36 state governors for a more localised approach to tackling kidnapping, banditry, and insurgency. Tinubu emphasised that the constitutional amendments required to empower states to manage their own police forces are being fast-tracked.

Toor better late than never

This need to be fast-tracked... The rising case of insecurities is alarming

olaiya2007:
This need to be fast-tracked... The rising case of insecurities is alarming

Indeed. State policing will help immensely for dedicate and focused States.

It's a welcome idea 💡. Needs fast implementation

State police is a welcome idea,but the underside is the governors may use them against their political opponents.
So laws must be made to prevent such from happening.

Axis313:
State police is a welcome idea,but the underside is the governors may use them against their political opponents.
So laws must be made to prevent such from happening.

Fair point but I think the argument still pales into insignificance alongside the fact too many Nigerians are being killed, kidnapped, raped and maimed today by wanton and unchecked criminality.

I am okay, if that is the trade-off to save thousands of Nigerian lives, with Governors beefing their political opponents because that does not usually result in deaths and cannot compare to the hundreds of innocent Nigerians, and increasing rapidly, dying in States of Nigeria currently.

Nigeria is becoming one big and lawless crime scene. It is destroying everything from our capacity to earn significant national income through travel and tourism, increase individual/business trade and productivity, attract FDI (foreign direct investment) to the general socio-economic progress of our nation.

That is what we must first face before worrying about Governors persecuting political foes.

Stories. Can a criminal rescue you from fellow criminals?

Axis313:
State police is a welcome idea,but the underside is the governors may use them against their political opponents.
So laws must be made to prevent such from happening.

Safety and security are far more important than the hypothetical case of governors using it against opponents.

WizardOfNG:
Fair point but I think the argument still pales into insignificance alongside the fact too many Nigerians are being killed, kidnapped, raped and maimed today by wanton and unchecked criminality today.

I am okay, if that is the trade-off to save thousands of Nigerian lives, with Governors beefing their political opponents because that does not usually result in deaths and cannot compare to the hundreds of innocent Nigerians, and increasing rapidly, dying in States of Nigeria currently.

Nigeria is becoming one big and lawless crime scene. It is destroying everything from our capacity to earn significant national income through travel and tourism, increase individual/business trade and productivity, attract FDI (foreign direct investment) to the general socio-economic progress of our nation.

That is what we must first face before worrying about Governors persecuting political foes.

Don't misunderstand me,I am not saying state police must not be implemented,I am just pointing out some disadvantages, for example,in the First Republic, regional police was used against political opponents.

Axis313:
Don't misunderstand me,I am not saying state police must not be implemented,I am just pointing out some disadvantages, for example,in the First Republic, regional police was used against political opponents.

I understand you well Sir and every reasonable person will be apprehensive somewhat but we are not in a position to choose.

I believe the death and insecurity is simply too much meaning everything else, related to the wellbeing of Nigeria and Nigerians, is zero if we do not tame criminality, terrorism and wanton killing of innocent people.

Sadly, past leaders played a part in our woes creating a federal police force that is under-equiped and lacking motivation because the officers of the NPF , risking lives and limb daily, are probably the most poorly paid globally with salaries that cannot meet 20% of their living cost yet Senators cart home millions.

Horrendous ethno-religious division has crept into our national consciousness in the past 10 to 15 years also making the NPF a force that can sometimes be divided against itself.

All this taken together means the NPF is beyond redemption and an archaic model of policing Nigeria's existential security needs has overtaken and overwhelmed totally.

This is why State policing is required urgently. We will work through the problems and devise solutions to tame abuse once State policing is delivered.

What is crucial is that it must be delivered ASAPas ours is a case of "beggars can't be choosers".

Some major policies tinubu will quickly give quick implementation once he secures his second terms victory:.

- State policing

- Local government autonomy

- New tax laws

- Cashless policies
Don't vote balablu if you don't want what I listed above.

Obakoolex:
Toor better late than never

Even in Ramadan. Toh.