President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has told state governors that the establishment of state police in Nigeria “cannot wait any longer” and urged them to support efforts to roll out the reform as part of the country’s strategy to tackle insecurity, multiple sources report.

Speaking on Monday night during an interfaith breaking of fast with governors and senior officials at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu stressed that the time has come to create state police to complement existing security structures and address persistent challenges such as banditry, terrorism and kidnappings across the country.

“What I promised you will not be postponed. We will establish state police to combat insecurity,” the president said, reiterating a commitment he has made since before assuming office in 2023 and describing the reform as a critical step toward improving safety for Nigerians.

Tinubu also conveyed optimism about Nigeria’s broader trajectory saying the country has “emerged from economic uncertainty” and encouraged governors to extend development efforts to grassroots communities where hope now flickers, particularly as Ramadan and the Christian Lenten season coincide.

Although governors at the event broadly backed the idea of state policing as part of security reform discussions held at the National Economic Council, details on how the forces would be integrated with federal agencies and the legal framework required for their creation are still expected to be worked out through constitutional and legislative processes.

Tinubu’s remarks underline renewed urgency behind the long-debated proposal for state police as Nigeria continues to confront complex security challenges that have stretched existing national law enforcement capacities.