President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally called on the National Assembly to summon the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun. The directive aims to address ongoing delays and critical concerns surrounding the proposed establishment of state police forces across Nigeria.
Addressing Delays and Safeguarding State Police
Speaking on Friday night, December 19, 2025, at the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Tinubu insisted that the creation of state police is an inevitable and necessary step to improve national security. The meeting was held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
A statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, detailed Tinubu's position. The President urged federal lawmakers to invite the police chief to examine practical ways to 'institute controls and prevent abuses'. Tinubu emphasized that this move is a crucial component in the broader fight against terrorism, banditry, and other security challenges plaguing the nation.
Political Backing and Broader Security Context
The APC NEC meeting, described by former Senate President Ahmed Lawan as a 'significant gathering', saw key party leaders align behind the President's agenda. Lawan, via his official Facebook page, reiterated steadfast support for Tinubu's blueprint, pledging to work for the peace and prosperity of Nigerians.
Similarly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, commended the President for his bold economic and security reforms. This high-level backing comes amid growing national calls for decentralised policing.
The debate over state police gained significant momentum in the mid-2010s as insecurity worsened. Many governors have argued that the current federal police structure, established in the 1960s, is inadequate to address modern security threats like kidnapping and rural banditry. Recently, governors from the South-West region renewed their urgent demand for state police, citing escalating insecurity.
A Firm Stance on Security and Terrorism
President Tinubu's call to summon the IGP is part of a broader, firm stance on security. The Nigerian leader has previously vowed that his administration 'will go after' terrorism financiers, bandits, and foreign-linked mercenaries, promising to defeat these threats.
He has also addressed international concerns, including responses to claims of a 'Christian genocide' in Nigeria, by reiterating that state police is an unavoidable reform for national stability. The President's latest move signals a push to translate political consensus on state police into actionable, safeguarded legislation by directly engaging the country's top law enforcement officer through the National Assembly.
