In a significant policy declaration, President Bola Tinubu has revealed that he has personally assured the United States and key European partners of his administration’s commitment to implementing state police as a cornerstone strategy to enhance national security. This announcement, made during the 14th National Caucus meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, signals a potential historic shift in Nigeria’s security architecture, moving away from a solely centralized model.
The President’s disclosure underscores the growing international concern over Nigeria’s security challenges and the external pressure for tangible, structural reforms. By framing the state police initiative within discussions with foreign partners, Tinubu elevated it from a domestic political issue to a matter of international confidence and cooperation. His statement, “They asked me if I’m confident and I said yes, I have a party to depend on,” directly links the success of this ambitious constitutional reform to robust internal party unity and legislative support.
Beyond Announcement: The Deeper Context of State Police
The call for state police is not new in Nigeria’s political discourse. It has been a recurring demand from state governors and regional groups, particularly in areas heavily impacted by banditry, kidnapping, and farmer-herder conflicts. Proponents argue that a decentralized police force would be more responsive to local security dynamics, improve intelligence gathering, and allow for tailored policing strategies. However, critics fear it could be weaponized by state political actors against opponents or exacerbate inter-communal tensions if not governed by a strong national regulatory framework. Tinubu’s assurance suggests his administration is now prepared to navigate these complex legislative and constitutional hurdles.
The President seamlessly connected this security pledge to the broader theme of governance and institutional strengthening. He pointed to the recent landmark Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments as a parallel reform. His insistence that “allocations meant for local governments must go directly to them” and that “autonomy will be meaningless if councils were not adequately funded” highlights a recognition that security, political stability, and grassroots development are interlinked. Effective local governance, he argued, is a prerequisite for community stability.
The APC’s Internal Calculus: Cohesion as a Foundation
The setting of the announcement—the APC National Caucus—was strategic. Tinubu’s message was as much for his international audience as it was for his party’s leadership. He emphasized that “the responsibility for political reconciliation and internal party cohesion rested with leaders at all levels,” framing flexibility and tolerance as “essential for stability and progress.” This call for unity is critical for an administration seeking to pass transformative legislation that may require constitutional amendments, necessitating a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and approval by two-thirds of state legislatures.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s remarks complemented this by presenting a data-driven case for the APC’s “growing dominance.” His detailed breakdown of the party’s control across geopolitical zones served a dual purpose: it was a rallying cry against complacency and a stark warning to the opposition. By naming powerful defectors like former Vice Presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in Delta State as examples, Shettima illustrated the APC’s strategy of absorbing political heavyweights to consolidate power. His ancient Rome analogy—”Rome was not destroyed by outside invaders, Rome was destroyed by the complacency of the Romans”—was a pointed reminder that internal discord is the greatest threat to their success.
Tinubu concluded with a push for greater inclusion, urging stakeholders to “make provisions that would bring more women into the fold” of party leadership. This nod toward gender equity, alongside the focus on local governance and security reform, paints a picture of an administration attempting to address multifaceted national challenges simultaneously, while firmly anchoring its capacity to do so in the strength and discipline of its ruling party.
