“Tackling insecurity requires more than structural changes. The Tinubu administration must complement this reform with genuine efforts to address root causes — poverty, unemployment, porous borders, weak justice delivery, and corruption and fulfill its obligations to the existing federal police force”
In a statement issued by the Acting National Chairman, Conference of United Political Parties (CUPP) High Chief Peter Ameh, on the Passage of State Police Constitutional Amendment Bill, Chief Peter considers the decision a hasty Reform in the midst of the Federal Government’s Failure to Strengthen the Centralized Police Force
Speaking from Abuja, the CUPP Chairman advises the Tinubu led Government to complement the reform with genuine efforts to address the root causes of the insecurity situations bedeviling the nation, citing — poverty, unemployment, porous borders, weak justice delivery, and corruption and failure of FG to fulfill its obligations to the existing federal police force, This is the only reason that will make the policy realistic in its implementation and practice.
The CUPP Acting Chairman maintained that “the Nigerian Senate’s passage of the constitutional amendment bill for the establishment of State Police on June 24, 2026, following earlier approval by the House of Representatives, marks a landmark shift in the nation’s security architecture. This reform moves Nigeria toward a more decentralized policing system in response to the persistent failures of the centralized model”
Nigeria continues to grapple with severe insecurity and banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, farmer-herder clashes, communal violence, and urban crime. The existing Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has been critically overstretched and under-resourced. Despite repeated promises by the Tinubu administration to massively recruit and adequately fund the police, including announcements of recruiting tens of thousands of officers and enhancing the Police Trust Fund. According to the CUPP Acting Chairman, “These commitments have not been fulfilled to the required scale or with the urgency needed. This shortfall has left the federal police ill-equipped to tackle rising threats, underscoring the limitations of relying solely on a centralized force controlled from Abuja”
The introduction of State Police offers opportunity to bridge these gaps by Improving local intelligence and rapid response: State-based forces, recruited locally and familiar with terrain, languages, and specific threats, can deliver more effective community-oriented policing.
Caveats and Concerns
While this could be a good reform but the hasty nature leaves more to be desired, it is not a panacea. We caution that poorly implemented State Police could be vulnerable to abuse, including political weaponization, election interference, or suppression of opposition.
There are also legitimate worries regarding funding disparities across states, uneven professional standards, and potential coordination challenges between federal and state commands.
Urge the National Assembly to establish minimum national standards, provide training support, and create sustainable funding mechanisms to assist less-resourced states. while finally delivering on long-standing promises to adequately recruit, equip, and fund the national police.
3. All stakeholders — civil society organizations, traditional institutions, security experts, and the general public — to actively monitor implementation and demand professionalism, accountability, and respect for human rights.
Tackling insecurity requires more than structural changes. The Tinubu administration must complement this reform with genuine efforts to address root causes — poverty, unemployment, porous borders, weak justice delivery, and corruption and fulfill its obligations to the existing federal police force.
This reform carries both promise and risk. Its ultimate success will depend on transparent, accountable, and professionally executed implementation that prioritizes the safety and well-being of all Nigerians.
We remain committed to constructive engagement with all levels of government to ensure State Police becomes a genuine asset in our collective fight against insecurity.
Chief Peter Ameh
Acting National chairman — CUPP
