Arodiogbu hails Tinubu’s State Police initiative, describes it as landmark federalism reform

National Vice Chairman (South East), All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as a deliberate and result-oriented approach to restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture through the proposed establishment of state police, describing the move as a practical demonstration of true federalism.

Arodiogbu said the President’s handling of the reform reflects purposeful leadership focused on achieving meaningful constitutional changes without unnecessary political drama or public grandstanding.

Speaking on the ongoing constitutional amendment process, the APC chieftain pointed to the President’s transmission of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill 2026 to the National Assembly and its subsequent passage by both the Senate and the House of Representatives as a major milestone in addressing Nigeria’s longstanding security challenges.

According to him, the initiative demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s commitment to devolving greater responsibilities to sub-national governments while maintaining a balanced and effective national security framework.

“President Asiwaju Tinubu is devolving power to the states without noise. This is true federalism in action, addressing our security challenges while strengthening the federation,” Arodiogbu stated.

He explained that the proposed legislation introduces a carefully designed dual policing system comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services, a structure intended to improve intelligence gathering, enhance community policing, facilitate quicker responses to security threats, and strengthen collaboration between federal and state security institutions.

The APC National Vice Chairman noted that unlike previous efforts that generated extensive debate without concrete implementation, the current administration has taken practical steps to move the reform from discussion to legislative reality.

He further emphasized that the proposed constitutional amendment contains important safeguards aimed at preventing the misuse or political weaponisation of state police by state governments.

Among the safeguards, he highlighted provisions designed to ensure accountability and institutional checks, as well as the constitutional requirement that at least two-thirds of the country’s State Houses of Assembly—24 states—must ratify the amendment before it can receive presidential assent.

Arodiogbu described these measures as evidence that the administration is pursuing reforms that balance greater autonomy for states with the need to protect democratic governance and the rule of law.

He also praised President Tinubu for building broad national consensus across political parties and regional interests in advancing the legislation, describing the approach as inclusive and reflective of statesmanship.

According to him, the proposed state police system holds particular significance for the South-East, where enhanced community-based policing could contribute significantly to tackling insecurity and restoring public confidence.

He urged political leaders, lawmakers, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders across the region to support the constitutional amendment process by encouraging swift ratification at the state level.

The APC leader argued that the reform complements other initiatives of the Tinubu administration, including ongoing reforms affecting the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), all of which, he said, are designed to strengthen governance and improve service delivery under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“This is governance with vision and coordination, the exact opposite of what the opposition offers. Asiwaju is quietly restructuring Nigeria for efficiency and safety,” he added.

Arodiogbu maintained that the establishment of state police would represent one of the most significant constitutional reforms since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule, providing states with greater capacity to confront emerging security threats while supporting national security objectives.

He expressed optimism that the successful completion of the constitutional amendment process would usher in a new era of cooperative federalism, improved security coordination, and more effective governance across the federation.

As the proposed amendment proceeds to the various State Houses of Assembly for consideration, the APC chieftain called on legislators nationwide to place national interest above partisan considerations by supporting the bill.

He concluded that the State Police initiative represents another important milestone in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as a transformative reform that could redefine Nigeria’s security architecture and deepen the practice of true federalism.