Tinubu Launches Working Group for State Police Implementation

On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated a seven-member presidential working group led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila to facilitate the implementation of state police across Nigeria. This initiative follows the recent passage of a constitutional amendment concerning state police by the National Assembly.

The working group will prepare a legal framework for the national police bill, which aims to establish a dual police structure comprising the federal police service and 36 state police services. The bill will include provisions for minimum police standards and human rights safeguards.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State expressed support for the swift implementation of the reform, emphasizing the need for community-based policing to address Nigeria's long-standing security demands. Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi and Nigerian Bar Association representative Afam Osigw also underscored the importance of legal safeguards to prevent abuse within the state police framework.

The committee is tasked with producing an implementation-ready draft bill to expedite the legislative process.