President Bola Tinubu has expressed strong confidence that Nigeria will establish state police, describing it as a necessary step to strengthen security across the country.
Speaking on Thursday night at the State House in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital, during a caucus meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu addressed governors elected on the party’s platform alongside senior party leaders.
Okay News reports that the president used the meeting to outline key security and governance priorities of his administration.
Tinubu disclosed that the issue of state policing featured prominently in his recent discussions with leaders from the United States and Europe, where he defended Nigeria’s resolve to decentralise security operations.
“I had a very long discussion with the US and European leaders. I was bragging to them that definitely we will pass a state police to improve security,” the president said.
“They asked me if I’m confident, and I said, ‘Yes, I have a party to depend on. I have a party that will make it happen. And if at this level we fail, God forbid, we will not fail.’”
Beyond security, Tinubu also reiterated his administration’s commitment to implementing the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, urging state governors to ensure the judgement translates into practical governance reforms.
“Let us equally look at the recent supreme court judgement. What can we do with it, and how well we can position our country and our party?” he asked.
“To me, the local government autonomy is and must be effective. Let us give them. There is no autonomy without a funded mandate.”
The president stressed that genuine autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils requires direct access to funds, a position that has generated debate among state governments.
“We give them their money directly. That’s the truth. That’s compliance with the supreme court,” Tinubu said.
He also cautioned governors to remain actively engaged in governance at all levels, noting that leadership demands flexibility and close involvement with grassroots administration.
“You have to navigate this country; whether we like it or not, you are in the leadership position that must yield and continue to promote, tolerate and be flexible and get involved in whatever is happening in your various states, up to the local government level,” he added.
Tinubu concluded by emphasising that direct funding for local governments is non-negotiable if Nigeria is to achieve meaningful decentralisation and sustainable development.
