President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has openly restated his commitment to the creation of state police, as pressure mounts over worsening insecurity across the country.

The President said the reform remains a top priority of his administration and is central to tackling crimes such as banditry, kidnapping and insurgency.

Tinubu spoke on Thursday night during the 14th National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.

The closed-door meeting was attended by APC governors and top party leaders from across the country.

While addressing party stakeholders, the President disclosed that he had already discussed the state police plan with foreign partners and expressed strong confidence in its success.

He revealed that Nigeria’s governing structure and political alignment give the ruling party the advantage needed to push through the reform.

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

“They asked me if I’m confident, and I said, ‘Yes, I have a party to depend on.’”

The President pointed to the APC’s numerical strength in the National Assembly and its control of 28 states as a major factor that would ease the constitutional amendment process required to establish state police.

He urged party leaders to remain united and flexible, stressing that leadership requires constant engagement and accommodation at all levels.

Tinubu also charged governors to take governance beyond state capitals by paying closer attention to local councils.

He insisted that security reforms would be incomplete without strong and functional local governments.

On local government autonomy, the President demanded full compliance with the recent Supreme Court judgment. He made it clear that councils must receive their allocations directly to function effectively.

“To me, the local government autonomy is and must be effective. There is no autonomy without a funded mandate. We give them their money directly. That’s the truth. That’s compliance with the Supreme Court.”

The meeting was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and several state governors, including those who recently defected from opposition parties. The gathering was also used to strengthen party unity ahead of the National Executive Committee meeting.

Vice President Shettima, in his remarks, said the APC is steadily expanding its influence across the country.

He expressed confidence that the party’s growing dominance across geopolitical zones positions it strongly ahead of the 2027 general elections.

APC Chairman Yilwatda praised the wave of defections and ongoing membership mobilisation, describing them as signs of public trust in the ruling party.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, who spoke on behalf of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, said Tinubu’s economic and political reforms are already improving investor confidence.