President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated a seven-member Presidential Working Group to draft the National Policing Bill that will provide the legal framework for the implementation of state police across Nigeria, marking a significant step towards operationalising the country’s proposed dual policing system.

The President, represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, inaugurated the committee on Tuesday at the State House in Abuja.

Gbajabiamila will chair the panel, which comprises the Attorney-General of the Federation, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police. A dedicated secretariat will provide administrative support to the committee.

The inauguration follows the recent passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, by the National Assembly, which proposes the establishment of a dual policing structure consisting of the Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services.

Tinubu explained that while the constitutional amendment provides the foundation for state policing, the National Policing Bill would establish the legal and operational framework required for its implementation.

“The Constitution Amendment Bill establishes the framework for dual policing, but it does not operationalise it. That work is left to the National Policing Bill,” the President said.

He stated that the proposed legislation would address critical issues necessary for the successful implementation of state police across the federation.

“The proposed National Policing Bill will include provisions on minimum policing standards, state readiness certification, federal-state coordination, accountability, human rights safeguards and fiscal conditions,” he said.

According to Tinubu, the working group has been tasked with producing a comprehensive draft bill that will be ready for transmission to the National Assembly immediately after the constitutional amendment process is concluded.

“The Working Group has been constituted to produce a technically robust, implementation-ready draft National Policing Bill for transmission to the National Assembly,” he said.

He added that the committee was established to eliminate delays in implementing the reform once the constitutional amendment receives final approval.

“We must not wait until the constitutional process is concluded before beginning this important assignment,” the President added.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun assured the Federal Government of the governors’ commitment to ensuring the speedy implementation of the initiative.

He said all 36 state governors would work towards accelerating the passage of the constitutional amendment through their respective State Houses of Assembly.

Abiodun described the proposed state police as a long-awaited response to calls for community-based policing and greater decentralisation of internal security.

“This bill has answered the cries of Nigerians about cascading policing and removing it from the Exclusive Legislative List,” he said.

He noted that the initiative builds on the successes recorded by regional security outfits such as the South-West’s Amotekun Corps.

According to him, the establishment of state police would significantly increase Nigeria’s security manpower.

“If each state deploys about 6,000 personnel, we will add nearly 200,000 officers to complement the existing federal police,” Abiodun said.

He also commended President Tinubu for initiating implementation plans ahead of the completion of the constitutional amendment process.

“This inauguration demonstrates the proactiveness of the Executive in preparing for effective implementation,” he added.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the initiative as timely in view of the country’s prevailing security challenges.

“There is no denying the fact that we are in a critical moment security-wise, and all hands must be on deck,” Fagbemi said.

He urged state governors to ensure the swift ratification of the constitutional amendment by their respective legislatures.

“I appeal to the governors to do their utmost to ensure the early passage of the constitutional amendment because this is a shared responsibility,” he said.

Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, reaffirmed the association’s support for the establishment of state police, arguing that Nigeria’s security realities require a decentralised policing structure.

“Nigeria can hardly be effectively policed by one national police. We fully support the constitutional amendment providing for state police,” he said.

Osigwe, however, emphasised the need for robust legal safeguards to prevent abuse of the proposed state police by state governments.

“We must ensure we do not create a monster. The right legal framework must guarantee accountability and prevent oppression,” he said.

He pledged the NBA’s support for the committee in developing legislation that strengthens national security while safeguarding the rights and freedoms of Nigerians.