The Federal Government has intensified its calls for deeper structural reforms in the nation’s security system, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urging lawmakers to amend relevant laws to permit the formation of state-controlled police units.
His appeal comes amid a nationwide security emergency declaration, reflecting growing concerns over rising violence in several regions.
According to the President, the present realities demand that states be empowered to develop their own policing frameworks, especially in areas battling persistent attacks and instability. He noted that the administration had already begun taking steps to strengthen local security formations created by state governments.
“I call on the National Assembly to begin reviewing our laws to allow states that require state police to establish them,” he said.
Tinubu emphasised that educational and religious institutions located in remote communities must adopt stricter safety measures.
He cautioned schools against operating boarding facilities in high-risk locations without adequate protection and advised worship centres to consistently seek police support during gatherings.
He added that his government would continue backing states that already operate structured security outfits, noting that criminal elements have increasingly targeted vulnerable institutions. The President insisted that this shift in strategy remains crucial to stemming the growing threats.
“States should rethink establishing boarding schools in remote areas without adequate security… Mosques and churches should constantly seek police and other security protection when they gather for prayers, especially in vulnerable areas,” he stated.
As part of the broader emergency response, Tinubu approved a significant expansion of the Nigeria Police Force, authorising the recruitment of 20,000 additional officers to bring the cumulative figure to 50,000. He also sanctioned the temporary use of NYSC camps as training grounds to speed up preparations for new recruits.
The President further directed the Department of State Services to deploy trained forest guards to dislodge bandits hidden in forest belts across the country, adding that more operatives would be enlisted for specialised forest operations.
He maintained that VIP security officers withdrawn from personal protection duties would undergo urgent retraining before being reassigned.
Tinubu ended his statement with a call for national unity, stressing that tackling insecurity requires shared responsibility from both citizens and government. He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, cooperative and resolute as the government scales up its security interventions.