President Bola Tinubu on Friday called on the House of Representatives to fast-track amendments to the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the establishment of state police, stressing the need for safeguards to prevent misuse.

The President made the appeal while hosting members of the Green Chamber to an interfaith breaking of fast at the State House in Abuja.

Tinubu said the creation of a decentralised policing system has become imperative in addressing Nigeria’s evolving security threats, noting that security challenges are often local in nature and require community-based responses.

“I see some of you on television going to your constituencies and confronting security challenges. You know more than anyone else that security is local,” he said. “If security is local, then we must work together to persuade Nigerians on the need for state police.”

While advocating for the reform, the President cautioned lawmakers to ensure that the constitutional amendment is carefully structured to avoid the excesses experienced in the past.

“Amend it, but not in a way that creates a free fall for everyone. Design it in a manner that prevents abuse,” he advised. “A good legislature learns from history to fix the present. I am ready to work with you on this.”

The National Assembly is currently undertaking a review of the 1999 Constitution, although voting on key alteration bills is yet to commence.

Tinubu also commended the lawmakers for supporting his administration’s early economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market.

“It was difficult at the beginning for many to understand the direction we were heading,” he said. “None of you asked me to reverse the subsidy removal or abandon the naira floatation. You stood with me despite the intense criticism. Today, we are better off for it.”

The President made a similar appeal earlier in the day during a meeting with members of the Senate.