Arise TV Hosts Dialogue on State Police and Security

On July 9, 2026, Arise TV organized a Dialogue aimed at building national consensus for state police and national security in Nigeria. The event was timely and focused on promoting awareness of decentralized policing, contrasting with the centralized National Police Force (NPF).

Key participants included state governors and legislators, who contributed to discussions on the implications of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's executive bill, transmitted on June 24, 2026. This bill seeks to move policing to the Concurrent Legislative List and establish a dual federal-state policing structure through the proposed State Police Bill (Constitution Alteration Bill).

The Dialogue emphasized the importance of safeguards against political abuse, technological integration in security, and local government autonomy and funding. It also highlighted the need for gradual and inclusive reforms, reflecting on the ongoing police security sector reform.

The discussions underscored the critical role of security in governance, as outlined in Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, while raising questions about the balance between a developmental state and a police state.