‘State police is inevitable’ – Tinubu assures foreign partners, presses APC on security, LG autonomy

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday declared that the creation of state police in Nigeria is inevitable, saying he has already assured international partners that the country will decentralise its policing system to confront worsening insecurity.

Speaking at the 14th National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, Tinubu said he had assured United States and European partners that Nigeria would move decisively towards state policing to strengthen internal security and governance at the subnational level.

“I had a very long discussion with them – US and European partners – and I was bragging to them that we will definitely pass a state police bill to improve security,” Tinubu said.

“They asked me if I’m confident, and I said, ‘Yes, I have a party to depend on. I have a party that will make it happen.’ And if at this level we fail, God forbid, we will not fail.”

The President said the APC, as the majority party, must take responsibility for delivering reforms that address insecurity, insisting that political leadership must be backed by reconciliation, accommodation and flexibility at the grassroots.

Tinubu also turned attention to local government autonomy, insisting that the recent Supreme Court judgment mandating direct allocation of funds to councils must be implemented in practice, not merely in name.

“To me, local government autonomy must be effective,” he said. “There is no autonomy without a funded mandate. Give them their money directly. That is compliance with the Supreme Court.”

His remarks came amid longstanding allegations that some governors divert or control local government allocations through state joint accounts, a practice critics say undermines grassroots development and accountability.

The President urged governors and party leaders to take responsibility for what happens within their states and councils, arguing that stronger local governance would help stabilise communities and reduce insecurity.

Tinubu also called for greater inclusion of women in party leadership and decision-making, urging stakeholders to make deliberate provisions to expand women’s participation in the APC.

He further offered condolences to the people of Bayelsa State over the death of the Deputy Governor and called for prayers for the nation.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, in his remarks, warned APC leaders that sustaining the party’s growing dominance would be more difficult than attaining it, as he projected confidence ahead of the 2027 general election.

“To succeed is much easier than to maintain that success,” Shettima said, while highlighting the APC’s growing influence across geopolitical zones.

He described the party as firmly established nationwide, listing its control or strong presence in the South-South, North Central, North West, South West and North East regions.

“Certainly, we have become a pan-Nigerian party,” the Vice President said.

Shettima also reassured governors and political actors who recently aligned with the APC that they had found a permanent home, naming Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno.

He said more politicians were eager to join the ruling party ahead of 2027, urging leaders to manage internal politics carefully to sustain unity and discipline.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio lamented what he described as “organised and orchestrated insecurity,” accusing unnamed forces of deliberately destabilising the country through terrorism, banditry and insurgency.

“We are very sad that people have decided to torment Nigeria with very serious, organised and orchestrated insecurity,” Akpabio said, assuring the President of the caucus’ support and prayers.

He commended Tinubu for the rescue of over 100 kidnapped children and appealed for the remaining victims to be freed and reunited with their families.

Akpabio also disclosed that the National Assembly had taken “bold decisions” to deter criminality, including efforts to classify kidnapping alongside terrorism, a move that could make kidnappers liable to the death penalty once the President assents to the bill.

He urged governors to enforce capital punishment for grave offences such as banditry, warning that failure to sign execution warrants could embolden criminals.

APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, hailed what he described as a surge in the party’s national acceptance, citing high-profile defections, the rollout of an electronic membership registration system and plans for a new national secretariat in Abuja.

At his first caucus meeting since emerging as chairman in July, Yilwatda said the APC had secured land in Abuja’s Central Business District for its proposed national secretariat, with architectural designs already underway.

He also announced that the party had activated an electronic membership register nationwide, with January 30 set as the deadline for members to be registered ahead of congresses.

Yilwatda said recent defections, including those of governors from Bayelsa, Enugu, Taraba, Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom states, underscored the APC’s growing “pan-Nigerian character,” adding that the party now enjoys an overwhelming majority in both chambers of the National Assembly.

The APC National Caucus, a high-level strategic meeting of the party’s top leadership, was attended by President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, APC governors, National Working Committee members and other key stakeholders.

The party is expected to reconvene for its National Executive Committee meeting at the State House on Friday.