The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has declared that decentralised policing is now imperative to address Nigeria’s evolving security threats, stating that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to the establishment of state police once the necessary legal framework is enacted.

Idris made the disclosure during a meeting with a delegation from the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), led by its Chairman, Chris Olukolade (Rtd), at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

“It is the desire of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that we have State Police as soon as it is practicable in this country. The time has indeed come for that,” Idris said, noting that the President has urged the National Assembly to pass the required legislation.

The Minister emphasised that strengthening internal security must go hand-in-hand with improved national communication systems, particularly in the digital era where misinformation can escalate crises rapidly.

“In today’s digital age, crises are no longer only defined by events, but also by how information spreads as fast as it does. Digital innovation is therefore central to timely, accurate and coordinated communication,” he said.

Idris welcomed proposals from the CCC, including the creation of a National Crisis Communication Hub and a Crisis Communication Performance Index, describing them as consistent with the Ministry’s mandate. He assured the delegation that the Ministry would review the report of the November 2025 National Symposium on Digital Innovation and Crisis Communication to align its recommendations with ongoing reforms.

He further stressed that artificial intelligence and social media platforms must be used responsibly and patriotically, balancing freedom of expression with national interest and public trust.

Earlier, Olukolade commended the Minister’s support for communication reforms, stating that the November 2025 symposium produced actionable recommendations aimed at modernising Nigeria’s communication architecture through better infrastructure, enhanced capacity and inclusive governance.

He urged the government to endorse the proposed communication hub and performance index, describing them as essential tools for real-time monitoring, coordinated responses to misinformation and stronger institutional accountability.

The Minister also praised the Centre’s inter-agency collaboration initiatives, including its monthly Strategic Communication Inter-Agency Policy Committee meetings conducted in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser, reiterating the government’s openness to constructive engagement with credible civil society and professional bodies.

The renewed push for state policing and strengthened crisis communication reflects growing consensus within government circles that Nigeria’s complex security challenges require structural reforms alongside more coordinated public information management.