The presidency has challenged Nigeria’s organised private sector to develop a comprehensive financing and implementation blueprint for state police, urging businesses to help build security institutions that protect investments and create jobs.

Femi ‌‌‍‌Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff and chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, made the call at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

He specifically tasked the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), chambers of commerce and business associations with developing practical proposals for financing, institutional management and accountable partnerships to support decentralised policing.

“I therefore ask the Nigerian Economic Summit Group to carry this engagement beyond our meeting. Bring forward a considered private sector contribution on financing and implementing state police, with practical proposals for accountable partnerships,” he said.

Mr Gbajabiamila said insecurity imposed enormous costs on businesses through disrupted supply chains, abandoned investments, postponed factory expansions and lost economic opportunities.

“Your long-term security depends on the strength of public institutions beyond your gates,” he said, urging businesses to engage governors and legislators on the proposed reform.

Mr Gbajabiamila said private-sector expertise in financial planning, institutional management and risk assessment could strengthen the policing framework, while contributions must remain transparent and subject to independent scrutiny.

“Public funding must remain dependable, and a donation must never purchase influence over an investigation or preferential treatment,” he cautioned.

Mr Gbajabiamila said states seeking to establish their own police services must demonstrate the capacity to sustain salaries, professional training, equipment maintenance and other recurrent expenditure beyond initial investments, noting that “an institution that cannot meet its obligations to its officers becomes vulnerable to private patrons and unlawful demands on the public”.

He assured Nigerians that federal policing would continue in states not yet financially or institutionally prepared to establish their own services.

Providing an update, Mr Gbajabiamila said 24 state assemblies already approved the constitutional amendment providing for state police as of October 23, meeting the required two-thirds threshold. He added that the PWG had submitted the draft National Policing Bill and 29 consequential amendment bills to the Federal Ministry of Justice on October 19 for legislative review.

He said the proposals would be presented to President Bola Tinubu for approval after review and final consideration before transmission to the National Assembly.

Mr Gbajabiamila said the framework would allow capable states to protect their residents while retaining a strong federal police institution for interstate crimes and specialised national security operations.

Addressing concerns about political interference, he promised enforceable safeguards, national professional standards and independent oversight to prevent the misuse of state police powers against political opponents or vulnerable communities.

“A citizen’s entitlement to protection cannot depend on whom he supports or where she comes from,” he said.

(NAN)