The Federal Government has declared that Nigeria is ready for the establishment of State Police, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu committed to implementing the reform once the necessary legal framework is enacted.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known in Abuja while hosting the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), led by its Chairman, Major General Chris Olukolade.
🔐 “The Time Has Come”
Idris said decentralised policing has become necessary due to Nigeria’s increasingly complex security landscape. According to him, President Tinubu has already urged the National Assembly of Nigeria to fast-track legislation that would pave the way for State Police.
“It is the desire of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 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.
He described the move as a major transformation of Nigeria’s internal security structure.
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📢 Crisis Communication in the Digital Age
Beyond policing reform, the minister stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s crisis communication systems, warning that misinformation and poorly coordinated messaging can escalate national challenges.
“In today’s digital age, crises are no longer only defined by events, but by how information spreads,” he said.
Idris highlighted digital innovation as critical for ensuring timely, accurate, and coordinated responses during emergencies — especially when public trust is at stake.
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🏛 Proposed National Crisis Communication Hub
While receiving proposals from the CCC, the minister expressed support for:
• Establishing a National Crisis Communication Hub
• Creating a Crisis Communication Performance Index
According to him, these initiatives could improve real-time monitoring, enhance coordinated messaging, and strengthen institutional accountability.
He also assured that the Ministry would review recommendations from the November 2025 National Symposium on Digital Innovation and Crisis Communication to align them with ongoing federal reforms.
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⚖ Balancing AI, Social Media & National Interest
Idris cautioned that while artificial intelligence and social media are powerful tools, their use must balance freedom of expression with national interest to preserve credibility and public confidence.
Major General Olukolade commended the minister’s backing of reforms, noting that improved infrastructure, capacity development, and inclusive governance are key to modernising Nigeria’s crisis communication architecture.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its openness to collaboration with civil society organisations and professional bodies, stressing that effective security and communication require coordinated partnerships.
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Nigeria’s move toward State Police marks one of the most significant security reforms in recent years — and if passed into law, it could reshape how policing and crisis response are managed across the federation.
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