The deputy senate president, Barau Jibrin, has said President Bola Tinubu would have the constitutional authority to direct the Nigeria Police Force to assume control if any state police outfit is misused to intimidate citizens or threaten lives and property.

Barau, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, made the clarification while defending the proposed establishment of state police during Radio Nigeria Kaduna’s live Hausa programme, Hannu Da Yawa, on Saturday.

He described Tinubu’s push for state police as a strategic reform aimed at tackling Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, insisting that the proposal contains sufficient safeguards to prevent abuse by state governments.

According to him, the bill, recently passed by the Senate, followed extensive consultations involving the Presidency, the National Assembly, the Inspector-General of Police, retired police officers, security experts, governors, civil society organisations and members of the public.

Barau said the proposal also underwent public hearings across the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory before its passage.

Addressing concerns raised by callers during the two-hour programme, the Deputy Senate President said fears that state police could be deployed for political or ethnic purposes had been carefully considered in drafting the legislation.

“President Tinubu carefully studied the situation and discovered that while many Nigerians support State Police, there are fears that it could be abused or misused for political or ethnic purposes. That is why safeguards have been built into the system,” he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir.

He explained that state police would function alongside, rather than replace, the Nigeria Police Force by strengthening community policing through officers recruited from local areas.

“State Police operatives, who will be recruited from local communities, know the people, the terrain and even the criminals. This will significantly improve our response to banditry, kidnapping and other crimes,” Barau stated.

Responding to a question from a caller in Katsina State, he argued that northern Nigeria, which has witnessed persistent insecurity, would benefit significantly from the initiative.

“The North stands to benefit significantly. This initiative is designed to bring lasting peace to the worst-hit areas,” he added.

Barau stressed that the constitutional amendment clearly defines the limits of state police powers and provides mechanisms for federal intervention where necessary.

“If State Police are used for intimidation or actions that threaten lives and property, the President has the constitutional authority to intervene and direct the Federal Police to take over,” he said while responding to another caller.

He further explained that while the Nigeria Police Force would continue to handle national security matters such as terrorism and cybercrime, state police would concentrate on maintaining public order and addressing internal security issues within their jurisdictions.

The Deputy Senate President also disclosed that state police commandants would be appointed through a legally defined process designed to shield them from undue political influence.

On concerns over funding and operational capacity, Barau said appropriate financing arrangements and operational standards would be developed as work on the constitutional amendment and its enabling legislation progresses.

He expressed optimism that state Houses of Assembly would support the proposal, urging Nigerians to embrace the reform as part of efforts to strengthen security across the country.

“We must re-engineer our security architecture to better protect lives and property while guarding against abuse. This is a balanced, consultative initiative built on safeguards and aimed at bringing policing closer to the people,” he said.