Tinubu to Senate: Give Nigeria state police now

By Paul Dada

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to  the leadership of the 10th Senate to fast-track the  amendment of the constitution in order to provide a legal basis for the the establishment of state police.

According to statement by Bayo the President’s Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu made  the appeal during an interfaith breakfast with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to the statement, Tinubu said that the creation of state police had become urgent to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. The statement said  the president said state police was needed to strengthen grassroots policing, and enhance states’ capacity to respond swiftly to threats within their jurisdictions.

He said that a decentralised policing structure would complement existing federal security architecture and promote intelligence-led, community-focused law enforcement.

“We are facing terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. But we will never fail to make a right response to this cause. What I will ask for tonight is for you (Senators) to start thinking how best to amend the constitution to incorporate the State Police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, and free our children from fear,” he said.

Tinubu also commended the cordial relationship between the executive and the Senate, saying that unity is needed to defeat terrorism and banditry in the country.

“It is a good thing that we are working in harmony, we are looking forward to a country that evolves, a country that takes care of its citizens and protects all.

He thanked the Senate for its unflinching support towards achieving various economic reforms of his administration, especially the fuel subsidy removal and tax reform policy.

“I have a lot of credit for bold reforms. Without your collaboration and inspiration, those reforms would not be possible. We are reformists together. What we gave up and what we stopped is monumental corruption in the subsidy system. We don’t want to participate in monumental corruption and arbitrage foreign exchange.

“You don’t have to chase me for dollars; you could see what Nigeria is today. You should be proud, and I am glad you are. What we are enjoying is a stable economy, and prosperity is beckoning us. We need to work hard, and this attendance means a lot to me,” Tinubu said.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended the President for hosting the leadership of the Senate to the Interfaith breaking of fast.

He commended President Tinubu for providing the visionary leadership the nation needs at this critical time, stating that the administration’s bold reforms have now brought more revenue to governors at the sub-national level for the development of critical infrastructure.