Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commended the Senate for passing the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police across Nigeria, describing the development as a bold and necessary step towards strengthening security across the country.
Reacting to the Senate’s approval of the bill on Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu said the reform represents a significant response to a long-standing national conversation on improving community safety and empowering local authorities to address security challenges more effectively.
The Lagos State governor also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his role in advancing the state policing agenda, noting that the reform reflects the President’s long-standing commitment to restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture.
According to Sanwo-Olu, Tinubu had consistently championed the creation of state police since his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, believing that effective security requires empowering authorities with a deep understanding of their local environments.
“This reform is a direct result of his visionary leadership and commitment to restructuring our security architecture. He has championed this cause since his days as Governor of Lagos State, knowing that a safer Nigeria requires empowering authorities who actually know their terrain,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor noted that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub, faces unique and evolving security challenges that require a policing system tailored to local realities.
“For us in Lagos, our security needs are unique, dynamic and constantly evolving. We know our streets and our neighbourhoods better than anyone else. This progress finally gives us the opportunity to build a system that is fully responsive to our local realities,” he added.
While welcoming the Senate’s action, Sanwo-Olu stressed that more work remains to be done before the constitutional amendment becomes law, including securing approval from state Houses of Assembly and fulfilling other constitutional requirements.
He, however, described the Senate’s decision as a major milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards a safer and more secure nation.
The Senate passed the constitutional amendment bill after a clause-by-clause consideration and manual voting process, with more than two-thirds of senators supporting the proposal. The legislation seeks to establish state police services alongside the existing federal police structure, granting governors the power to appoint state commissioners of police subject to confirmation by their respective State Houses of Assembly.
About The Author
