President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of state police to the Senate.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, made this known during Tuesday’s plenary, adding that the Senate will consider the constitutional amendment bill on Wednesday (tomorrow).

Akpabio also announced that the states have promised to consider the state police bill on the same day once they receive it.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to create a legal framework for state police across the federation.

The move follows repeated calls by the President for constitutional reforms to enable states to play a greater role in securing their territories.

In February, Tinubu urged the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to accommodate state police, describing the reform as necessary to tackle terrorism, banditry and other security threats.

During his Democracy Day address earlier this month, the President vowed that terrorists, bandits and their sponsors would face the full weight of the law, insisting that no mercy would be shown to enemies of the state.

Tinubu said more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the last year and noted that terrorism-related deaths had fallen significantly compared to previous years.

However, he acknowledged that the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno states remained a painful reminder of the country’s security challenges.

The state police proposal has gained momentum in recent months, with both chambers of the National Assembly advancing constitutional amendment processes aimed at decentralising policing powers to the states.

The Senate is also expected to reconvene today for an emergency plenary session as lawmakers move to pass the bill and advance one of the most far-reaching security reforms in the country’s democratic history.

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The United Kingdom’s Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen Sir Charlie Collins, has arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, for a high-level assessment of bilateral defence cooperation with the Nigerian Army.

The British Defence Staff West Africa announced the visit in a post on its offìicial X handle on Tuesday.

According to the military, the visit underscoresǰ the UK’s ongoing support for Nigeria-led initiatives aimed at enhancing security and promoting regional stability in West Africa amid persistent threats from terrorism and insurgency.

“Welcome to Nigeria, Lt Gen Sir Charlie Collins KBE DSO, UK Deputy CDS (MSO).

“In Maiduguri with @HQNigerianArmy colleagues, seeing UK-Nigeria defence cooperation first-hand and supporting Nigeria-led efforts to strengthen security and regional stability,” the post read.

Images from the visit show a formal military guards of honour ceremony for Collins.

Picture also shows ceremonial handshakes and plaque exchanges between UK and Nigerian officers.

This latest engagement comes as Nigeria enhances its transnational cooperation in the fight against banditry and terrorism, particularly in the northern region.

See pictures of the visit below:

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that any Iranian funds unfrozen through sanctions relief or released by the US Treasury would go into a Washington-controlled escrow account, which Tehran could tap to purchase US food and medical supplies.

“The Money and/or Sanctions that the US Treasury is releasing goes into escrow, controlled by the USA, and will be used for the purchase of food and medical supplies, exclusively from the United States, including Corn, Wheat, and Soybeans from our great American Farmers,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

“This is a humanitarian crisis, and I feel it is necessary to help, NOW, before it is too late.”

After signing a deal aimed at ending the Middle East war, Washington and Tehran are negotiating key elements, including the future of Iran’s nuclear program, that would ensure a lasting peace.

As part of the deal, Tehran is set to get some form of sanctions relief from Washington, as well as the unfreezing of assets.

The US Treasury Department said Monday it was temporarily lifting sanctions on Iran to allow it to produce, sell and deliver crude oil and related products through August 21, as negotiations proceed.

AFP

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