Anietie Udobit, Abuja
Nigeria’s long-running debate over decentralised policing has entered a decisive legislative phase after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu transmitted the State Police Constitutional Amendment Bill to the National Assembly for consideration.
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The proposal—rooted in recommendations from previous security summits and constitutional review committees—seeks to formally empower states to establish and manage their own policing structures alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
Security analysts say the move reflects growing pressure from rising insecurity across rural communities, particularly in the North-West and North-Central zones, where banditry, kidnapping, and communal attacks have overwhelmed federal policing capacity.
However, concerns remain over funding, command structure, and political misuse at state level.
In a parallel development, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has issued a directive banning officers from creating or participating in monetized social media content, including TikTok videos while in uniform.
According to police leadership sources, the directive is aimed at restoring “discipline, operational secrecy, and institutional professionalism,” in line with global policing standards used by agencies such as INTERPOL and Scotland Yard, which restrict officer public content during active duty.
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