Urgent Legislative Action Needed for State Police, Says FG

Urgent Legislative Action Needed for State Police, Says FG

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the establishment of State Police in Nigeria, calling on the National Assembly of Nigeria to expedite the legal framework necessary for implementation.

The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the declaration on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), led by Major General Chris Olukolade, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

“The desire of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to ensure that we have State Police as soon as it is practicable in this country. The time has indeed come for that,” Idris stated, noting that the President has already appealed to lawmakers to put the necessary legislation in place.

The Minister stressed that decentralised policing is critical in tackling Nigeria’s evolving security challenges and that strengthening internal security must go hand-in-hand with robust national communication systems.

“In today’s digital age, crises are no longer only defined by events, but also by how information spreads as fast as it does. Digital innovation is therefore central to timely, accurate and coordinated communication, especially during moments of national importance,” he added.

Idris also welcomed the CCC’s proposals, including the creation of a National Crisis Communication Hub and a Crisis Communication Performance Index.

He pledged that the Ministry would study recommendations from the November 2025 National Symposium on Digital Innovation and Crisis Communication, exploring ways they can complement ongoing government reforms.

While noting the importance of artificial intelligence, social media, and other digital tools in modern communication, the Minister cautioned that they must be deployed responsibly, balancing freedom of expression with national interest and public trust.

Major General Olukolade expressed appreciation for the Minister’s support, describing it as instrumental in giving weight and authority to the symposium’s outcomes.

He noted that the event brought together security personnel, media professionals, scholars, and technology experts to produce actionable recommendations aimed at modernising Nigeria’s crisis communication framework.

The symposium’s proposals included strengthening infrastructure, building institutional capacity, and establishing inclusive governance mechanisms for real-time monitoring and coordinated responses to misinformation.

Olukolade appealed for the Minister’s endorsement of the recommended National Crisis Communication Hub and performance index framework.

The Minister commended the CCC for fostering inter-agency collaboration, research, training, and media monitoring, reiterating that constructive engagement with credible civil society and professional bodies is essential for strengthening Nigeria’s communication and security architecture.

Also present at the meeting were top officials from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the CCC, including Permanent Secretary Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, Dr. Sunday Baba, Commodore Kabir Aliyu, and Alh. Yushua’u Shuaib.

(L–R) The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam; Chief Executive Officer, PRNigeria, Yushau A. Shuaib; the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, fnipr; and Chairman, Centre for Crisis Communication, Major General Chris Olukolade (Rtd), mni, fnipr, during a courtesy visit by the Centre for Crisis Communication on February 26, 2026, in Abuja. Photo: Khalid Ahmed.