President Bola Tinubu has declared his administration's firm commitment to establishing state police as a crucial step towards tackling the nation's security challenges.
Confident Assurance to International Partners
The President revealed that he recently held extensive discussions with officials from the United States and Europe, where he confidently presented the plan for state policing as a key strategy for strengthening Nigeria's internal security framework.
"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," Tinubu stated.
He recounted that when questioned about his confidence in achieving this, he pointed to the strength of his political party. "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,'" the President affirmed.
Mandate on Local Government Autonomy
President Tinubu made these remarks on Thursday night while addressing governors elected under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The meeting was a party caucus gathering held at the State House in Abuja.
During the address, he also turned the governors' attention to the recent Supreme Court judgement affirming financial autonomy for local governments. He urged them to ensure its full and practical implementation.
"To me, the local government autonomy is and must be effective. Let us give them. There is no autonomy without a funded mandate. We give them their money directly. That's the truth. That's compliance with the supreme court," Tinubu emphasized, describing direct funding as non-negotiable for genuine autonomy.
A Call for Engaged and Flexible Leadership
The President charged the APC governors to remain deeply involved in governance at every level within their states. He advised them to adopt a flexible and tolerant approach to handling issues.
"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 said.
This directive underscores the administration's push for a more decentralized and responsive governance structure, linking enhanced security through state police with empowered local administration.
