Grassroots Coalition Rallies Behind President Tinubu as National Assembly Passes Historic State Police Bill

Nigeria’s journey toward a decentralized security infrastructure has received a massive promotional boost following a comprehensive endorsement by the Tinubu Media Force (TMF), which described the presidency’s decisive action on state policing as a courageous milestone that will redefine local governance and crime fighting.

The intervention by the prominent progressive media network follows a whirlwind week of intense legislative action in Abuja. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had transmitted the formal executive blueprint—the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026—to the National Assembly, urging lawmakers to fast-track its review. The federal legislature responded with unusual speed, with both chambers clearing the bill through crucial votes, effectively shifting the responsibility of constitutional amendment to regional lawmakers.

In an official response to the development, TMF National Coordinator, Hon. Oluwagbenga Abiola, maintained that the federal government is finally addressing a foundational defect in the country’s internal defense setup. For decades, security experts, regional socio-political groups, and state executives have argued that a centrally controlled police force headquartered in Abuja is fundamentally incapable of policing remote communities and diverse terrains across Nigeria’s sprawling borders.

The group noted that by creating a constitutional pathway for individual states to establish, fund, and control their own police forces, the administration is moving past empty political rhetoric and delivering on the core promises of the Renewed Hope agenda.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown remarkable statesmanship by providing the necessary political will to move this critical reform forward,” Hon. Oluwagbenga Abiola stated on behalf of the coalition. “Effective policing relies entirely on community trust, rapid response, and deep local intelligence. When security personnel are drawn from the immediate communities they protect, they naturally understand the unique social dynamics, cultures, and vulnerabilities of those neighborhoods. This proposed dual-policing system will bridge existing gaps and significantly strengthen our ability to prevent crimes before they happen.”

The proposed bill outlines a massive reorganization of domestic law enforcement. Under the new guidelines, the current Nigeria Police Force will be dissolved to make way for a streamlined Federal Police Service. Individual states will then gain the legal authority to recruit, train, and equip their own personnel, subject to minimum operational and regulatory standards established by the National Assembly to prevent potential abuse.

To safeguard the process against political manipulation, early outlines of the bill indicate that while state governors will oversee their respective forces, the actual appointment of State Commissioners of Police will require independent recommendations from the National Police Council and formal ratification from State Houses of Assembly.

With the legislative baton now passed to the subnational governments, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures has already expressed an unyielding readiness to receive the document. Regional speakers have pledged to coordinate swift public hearings within their territories to ensure ordinary citizens can contribute to the operational framework.

TMF concluded its briefing by reminding political leaders that the success of this security experiment will rest heavily on sustainable funding models and robust administrative oversight. The group challenged state governors to begin mapping out their fiscal plans, warning that state policing requires massive investments in modern tracking technologies, proper personnel remuneration, and comprehensive life insurance policies to ensure the new commands remain highly professional and completely focused on public safety.