The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has urged President Bola Tinubu to avoid rushing the creation of state police across Nigeria. He cautioned that setting up the system without proper planning could end up triggering fresh security difficulties for the country.
Ayodele shared his thoughts on Friday in a public statement released through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, according to Politics Nigeria. The cleric noted that while decentralised policing remains a positive concept that could curb insecurity, the federal government needs to address key pending issues before launching it.
He specifically raised fears about potential clashes between newly created state operatives and personnel of the existing Nigeria Police Force. According to Ayodele, failing to sort out how both forces will operate together could undermine the entire purpose of the initiative. He maintained that setting up state police is not a magic fix that will quickly eliminate terrorism or crime.
The cleric stated that managing state police involves many complex factors that require careful handling rather than speed. He advised the authorities to take their time and ensure the framework is fully developed so the country does not run into bigger complications.
His counsel comes as legal steps toward establishing a dual policing system advance rapidly. In September, federal lawmakers sent the Constitution Sixth Alteration Bill, 2026, to the 36 state assemblies, giving them a 30-day window to take a stance.
The Presidency later confirmed on October 23, 2026, that 24 state parliaments had voted in favour of the proposal. The development met the mandatory two-thirds constitutional requirement needed to amend the nation's supreme law.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and head of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, noted that the bill could now head back to the National Assembly before reaching President Tinubu for assent. The working group also indicated that draft legislative texts were undergoing review at the Federal Ministry of Justice ahead of final presentation.
