Tinubu Launches Group for Nationwide State Police Implementation

On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated a seven-member Presidential Working Group, chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, to facilitate the implementation of state police across Nigeria. This initiative comes in response to the National Assembly's recent passage of a constitutional amendment regarding state police, which is part of a broader proposal for a dual police structure comprising federal and state police services.

The group includes key members such as the Attorney General of the Federation and representatives from the Nigerian Bar Association and the Nigerian Governors' Forum. The working group is tasked with producing a draft bill for the National Police Bill, which will establish a legal framework for state police and ensure compliance with human rights standards.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun expressed support for the initiative, emphasizing the need for community-based policing to address Nigeria's long-standing security challenges. The Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, urged for the swift ratification of the constitutional amendment, while Afam Osigw from the NBA highlighted the importance of legal safeguards to prevent abuse of power by state police.