National Assembly Backing Tinubu on State Police, Security Reforms – Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio says the National Assembly will collaborate with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen the country’s security architecture, including plans to establish a national commission to regulate state policing.

Akpabio made the disclosure after leading a delegation of principal officers of the National Assembly on a Sallah visit to the President in Lagos.

According to the Senate President, lawmakers are already considering a framework that would support the creation and regulation of state police across the country as part of broader efforts to tackle insecurity.

He explained that the proposed national state police commission would oversee recruitment, training, operational standards, and conduct to ensure accountability and professionalism within state policing structures.

Akpabio acknowledged that attacks were still being recorded in parts of the country but argued that the security situation had improved significantly compared to previous years.

He noted that insurgent groups no longer control territories within Nigeria as was once the case during the peak of insurgency in the North-East.

“As insecurity remains a key national concern, the National Assembly will continue to support the President in efforts aimed at reforming and strengthening the nation’s security framework,” he said.

The Senate President stressed that addressing insecurity requires cooperation among all arms of government, adding that the legislature remained committed to passing laws and reforms necessary to improve national security and public safety.

The push for state police has remained a major national debate, with supporters arguing that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering and rapid response to local security threats, while critics fear possible abuse by state governments.