President Bola Tinubu has assured the United States and the European Union that Nigeria will establish state police as part of efforts to address the country’s worsening security challenges.
The President disclosed this on Thursday while speaking at the 14th All Progressives Congress (APC) National Caucus meeting held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
According to Tinubu, he had extensive discussions with leaders from the United States and Europe during which he expressed confidence that the long-debated state police reform would be successfully passed.
“I had a very long discussion with the US and European heads. I was bragging to them that definitely we will pass a state police to improve security,” the President said.
He added that when asked if he was confident of achieving the reform, he responded in the affirmative, citing the backing of the ruling party.
“They asked me if I’m confident, and I said, yes, I have a party to depend on. I have a party that will make it happen,” Tinubu stated.
The President urged governors and party leaders to demonstrate flexibility, tolerance and stronger engagement at the grassroots, particularly at the local government level, as part of broader governance and security reforms.
“You must yield and continue to promote, tolerate and be flexible, get involved in whatever is happening in your various states, up to the local government level,” he said.
Tinubu also referenced the recent Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, stressing the need for full compliance, especially in the direct funding of local councils.
“To me, the local government autonomy, it is and must be effective. There is no autonomy without funded mandate. We will give them their money directly. That’s compliance of the Supreme Court,” he said.
The President called on party leaders to take responsibility for positioning both the country and the APC effectively, noting that reconciliation, accommodation and collective leadership were critical to achieving key reforms.
