•Working group opens portal for public input • ‘It is Tinubu’s most consequential reforms’

The process leading to the creation of state police has been fast-tracked.

A seven-week roadmap for the National Policing Bill commenced on July 27 and is expected to be completed on September 14.

Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, unveiled the action plan yesterday after the group’s meeting.

He said the seven-week work programme would proceed through simultaneous legal drafting, policy research, data analysis and implementation modelling.

Gbajabiamila added that the final submission would include schedules, an explanatory memorandum, a legal audit, a consequential amendments matrix, clause-by-clause analysis, a state readiness framework, fiscal and implementation notes, a validation report, a risk register and a digital archive.

The Chief of Staff reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to decentralised policing that would not undermine national unity or the rule of law.

He said: “State police cannot mean 36 state militias,” adding that while states must have a legitimate role in public safety, “no political office holder should be able to direct the arrest of an opponent, the suppression of lawful political activity, or the selective enforcement of the law.”

Gbajabiamila explained that federal intervention would remain “exceptional, evidence-based, proportionate, time-limited and reviewable”, while officers would remain accountable to the Constitution rather than political interests.

He said no state would be permitted to commence policing operations until it demonstrated readiness in recruitment, training, equipment, pensions, complaints handling, financial sustainability, firearms control and independent oversight.

Gbajabiamila added: “Operational commencement must be based on readiness, not announcement. Although states could exceed national benchmarks, no Nigerian should receive a lower standard of protection because of where they reside.”

To encourage public participation, the Chief of Staff called for memoranda and position papers from Nigerians, civil society organisations, professional bodies, security institutions and other stakeholders.

He said a dedicated portal, nationalpolicingbill.com, had gone live to receive submissions, with plans to migrate it to a government domain.

On the financial implications of the reform, Gbajabiamila said it was premature to estimate the cost, noting that expenditure would be determined through empirical research conducted on a state-by-state basis.

He dismissed fears that some states might lack the capacity to establish police services.

However, Gbajabiamila explained that where a state is genuinely unable to meet the prescribed standards, the Nigeria Police Force would continue to provide policing services until the state becomes operational.

Gbajabiamila said the committee is expected to submit an Executive Bill to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3.

He said the package would go beyond draft legislation, adding that it would also provide the implementation blueprint required to operationalise a dual federal-state policing architecture once the constitutional amendment creating state police comes into force.

Hailing the initiative, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun described the National Policing Bill as one of President Tinubu’s most consequential reforms.

Also assuring Nigerians of the prospects of the initiative, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the enforcement of national standards would prevent abuse of state police and protect citizens.

Explaining further, Gbajabiamila said that following the completion of the draft, nationwide consultations would be held before the President grants final approval, after which the executive bill would be transmitted to the National Assembly.

He said: “The resulting draft executive bill package is scheduled for presentation to the President on the 3rd of September.

“We have tweaked the process so that the national consultation will come before the President’s final approval, after which the text and supporting materials will be revised and prepared for formal transmission to the National Assembly.”

He stressed that despite the progress made by the National Assembly, no state police service currently exists in Nigeria because the constitutional amendment has not yet secured the approval of the required number of state Houses of Assembly.

He said that while the constitutional amendment would create the legal authority for state policing, it would not by itself resolve critical operational issues such as recruitment, training, funding, command structures, jurisdiction, pensions, firearms regulation, data management, complaints mechanisms and inter-agency cooperation.

Gbajabiamila explained that those issues would be addressed in the National Policing Bill and other consequential legislation being prepared by the working group.

Gbajabiamila said the assignment also includes a review of the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, police regulations and other laws affected by the reform, alongside provisions for minimum national policing standards, state certification, interstate cooperation, independent complaints institutions, human rights safeguards, forensic systems, funding arrangements and transition plans.

He said President Tinubu had approved a multidisciplinary Policy Advisory Committee, chaired by Justice Mohammed Abdullahi Liman, to provide technical oversight and validate the bill, fiscal framework and implementation materials before executive consideration.

He said the committee would draw its membership from the judiciary, academia, security agencies, the National Assembly, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and state Attorneys-General representing the six geopolitical zones. NigerianBusiness Coverage

Abiodun described the National Policing Bill as one of the most consequential reforms of the Tinubu administration, saying the legislation would provide the legal and operational framework needed to translate the constitutional amendment into a workable policing system.

Abiodun, who represents the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, told reporters that the bill would address critical issues, including the jurisdiction of federal and state police, funding arrangements, recruitment, start-up grants for states and amendments to existing laws affected by the reform.

He noted that many Nigerians had assumed that states would immediately establish police services once the National Assembly approved the constitutional amendment, explaining that the current assignment of the working group is to produce the detailed implementation framework that would make the reform operational. NigerianBusiness Coverage

Nigerian Entrepreneur Support
Abiodun said: “What we’ve seen and witnessed is the amendment of the Constitution, and we’ve seen a groundswell of support by the entirety of Nigerians with a very high level of expectation that once the amendment was completed by the National Assembly, the next thing is for states to begin to implement their various state policing systems.

“The truth is that what this working group is working on is what would allow for the details of that implementation, which will be reflected in the bill.”

Abiodun dismissed insinuations that the Federal Government was attempting to retain control over state policing through the proposed legislation, insisting that the bill was intended only to translate the constitutional amendment into an effective and workable legal framework.

He said: “Someone has to be responsible for ensuring that the amendment now reflects in a bill that can be operated, and that’s what we’re working on.”

The governor explained that the legislation would also make consequential amendments to other existing laws, including the Firearms Act, while clearly defining the responsibilities of both federal and state police services.

He urged Nigerians to actively participate in shaping the proposed legislation through the newly launched public engagement portal, nationalpolicingbill.com, describing it as an interactive platform designed to give citizens a sense of ownership of the reform. NigerianBusiness Coverage

Fagbemi said the primary objective of the proposed legislation was to strengthen the protection of lives and property while ensuring that state police never become instruments of political persecution.

He explained that where any state is not yet prepared to establish its own police service, the Nigeria Police Force would continue to provide policing until such capacity is developed.

Nigerian Business Coverage
Fagbemi said: “Law abhors a vacuum, so the federal presence will continue to dominate in that area.”

The minister defended the proposed minimum national policing standards, saying they were essential to guarantee equal protection for Nigerians irrespective of where they reside. NigerianBusiness Coverage

He said: “The main thrust of this bill is to ensure security of lives and property, and it is also important that we do not make state policing a weapon of political persecution or oppression.

“There must be standards. There must be the minimum threshold to guarantee the continued existence and operation of society.”

The minister said the standards would be aligned with globally recognised policing practices, assuring that officers moving between the federal and state police services would not lose their benefits.

Other members of the Presidential Working Group at the briefing included the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN); Chairman of the Policy Advisory Committee, Justice Abdullahi Liman; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, Nnadubem Moghalu.

Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc (“St Financial” or “the Group”) today released its unaudited results for the half-year ended 30 June 2026, posting broad-based growth across key performance indices.

The Group’s gross earnings rose 31.5% to ₦279.6 billion over the corresponding period in 2025, led by a 33.7% jump in interest income to ₦223.6 billion as the loan book expanded and asset yields improved. Net interest income climbed 41.0% to ₦137.4 billion, while non-interest income grew by 23.3% to ₦56.0 billion, supported by notable increases in fee income and other operating income lines.

Sterling Financial continued to strengthen its balance sheet with total assets expanding by 19.3% to ₦4.67 trillion, supported by a 21.1% growth in customer deposits to ₦3.62 trillion and disciplined expansion in the loan portfolio. The Group’s profit before tax (PBT) rose 21.9% to ₦55.5 billion while profit after tax (PAT) rose 20.4% to ₦50.3 billion.

Return on average equity stood at 20.6% and return on average assets improved to 2.35% from 2.05%.

Sterling Financial’s shareholders’ funds increased 27.8% to ₦547.7 billion in the period under review, primarily reflecting the ₦96.6 billion raised through a public offer of 13.8 billion ordinary shares. The Group’s share price has also appreciated over 15% from its year-opening position, reflecting renewed investor interest in the franchise ahead of the results release. Basic earnings per share stood at 77 kobo, reflecting the enlarged share base following the public offer.

The Group’s performance is anchored by its ongoing modernisation of its technology stack and operating model across its commercial (Sterling Bank), non-interest (AltBank), and wealth management (SterlingFI) arms. That work is showing up in faster service turnaround, tighter unit economics, and greater headroom to absorb rising customer activity without loosening the Group’s risk posture.

The combination of a reinforced capital base, expanding deposit franchise, and broader earnings mix leaves Sterling Financial positioned to compound growth in the second half of the year, channelling capital where it earns most and continuing to lend into the real economy.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has unveiled plans to establish 3.7 gigawatts (GW) of local solar photovoltaic (PV) panel manufacturing capacity by the end of 2027 as Nigeria intensifies efforts to expand electricity access and reduce dependence on imported renewable energy equipment.

Managing Director of the agency, Engr. Abba Aliyu, disclosed the initiative in Abuja during a benchmarking visit by officials of the Zanzibar Utilities Regulatory Authority (ZURA).

He said the agency is encouraging Chinese solar manufacturers to establish production facilities in Nigeria, noting that locally assembled solar panels are already being exported from Lagos to neighbouring Ghana.

According to him, the planned manufacturing expansion will significantly reduce imports while strengthening Nigeria’s renewable energy value chain. Aliyu attributed the rapid global growth of renewable energy to falling prices of solar panels and lithium batteries, saying technological innovation has made off-grid electricity the most cost-effective solution for millions of underserved communities.

He said Nigeria’s electricity access rate currently stands at 61.2 per cent, leaving about 80 million people without reliable power supply.

To address the challenge, REA has adopted a least-cost electrification strategy that determines the most suitable technology for each community rather than relying solely on national grid expansion.

The agency has mapped more than 700,000 communities nationwide, with plans to serve about 45 per cent through solar home systems, 31 per cent through mini-grids and the remaining 24 per cent through grid extension.

Aliyu added that REA has developed one of Africa’s most extensive geospatial electricity databases, covering more than 51,000 health facilities, 11,000 markets, thousands of schools, factories, dams, electricity feeders and existing mini-grids to support investment planning.

He noted that the agency’s interventions also target underserved communities receiving less than six hours of electricity daily. The REA boss warned that electricity demand would continue to rise sharply as Nigeria’s population grows, more sectors become electrified and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data centres consume increasing amounts of power.

•Working group opens portal for public input • ‘It is Tinubu’s most consequential reforms’

The process leading to the creation of state police has been fast-tracked.

A seven-week roadmap for the National Policing Bill commenced on July 27 and is expected to be completed on September 14.

Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, unveiled the action plan yesterday after the group’s meeting.

He said the seven-week work programme would proceed through simultaneous legal drafting, policy research, data analysis and implementation modelling.

Gbajabiamila added that the final submission would include schedules, an explanatory memorandum, a legal audit, a consequential amendments matrix, clause-by-clause analysis, a state readiness framework, fiscal and implementation notes, a validation report, a risk register and a digital archive.

The Chief of Staff reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to decentralised policing that would not undermine national unity or the rule of law.

He said: “State police cannot mean 36 state militias,” adding that while states must have a legitimate role in public safety, “no political office holder should be able to direct the arrest of an opponent, the suppression of lawful political activity, or the selective enforcement of the law.”

Gbajabiamila explained that federal intervention would remain “exceptional, evidence-based, proportionate, time-limited and reviewable”, while officers would remain accountable to the Constitution rather than political interests.

He said no state would be permitted to commence policing operations until it demonstrated readiness in recruitment, training, equipment, pensions, complaints handling, financial sustainability, firearms control and independent oversight.

Gbajabiamila added: “Operational commencement must be based on readiness, not announcement. Although states could exceed national benchmarks, no Nigerian should receive a lower standard of protection because of where they reside.”

To encourage public participation, the Chief of Staff called for memoranda and position papers from Nigerians, civil society organisations, professional bodies, security institutions and other stakeholders.

He said a dedicated portal, nationalpolicingbill.com, had gone live to receive submissions, with plans to migrate it to a government domain.

On the financial implications of the reform, Gbajabiamila said it was premature to estimate the cost, noting that expenditure would be determined through empirical research conducted on a state-by-state basis.

He dismissed fears that some states might lack the capacity to establish police services.

However, Gbajabiamila explained that where a state is genuinely unable to meet the prescribed standards, the Nigeria Police Force would continue to provide policing services until the state becomes operational.

Gbajabiamila said the committee is expected to submit an Executive Bill to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3.

He said the package would go beyond draft legislation, adding that it would also provide the implementation blueprint required to operationalise a dual federal-state policing architecture once the constitutional amendment creating state police comes into force.

Hailing the initiative, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun described the National Policing Bill as one of President Tinubu’s most consequential reforms.

Also assuring Nigerians of the prospects of the initiative, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the enforcement of national standards would prevent abuse of state police and protect citizens.

Explaining further, Gbajabiamila said that following the completion of the draft, nationwide consultations would be held before the President grants final approval, after which the executive bill would be transmitted to the National Assembly.

He said: “The resulting draft executive bill package is scheduled for presentation to the President on the 3rd of September.

“We have tweaked the process so that the national consultation will come before the President’s final approval, after which the text and supporting materials will be revised and prepared for formal transmission to the National Assembly.”

He stressed that despite the progress made by the National Assembly, no state police service currently exists in Nigeria because the constitutional amendment has not yet secured the approval of the required number of state Houses of Assembly.

He said that while the constitutional amendment would create the legal authority for state policing, it would not by itself resolve critical operational issues such as recruitment, training, funding, command structures, jurisdiction, pensions, firearms regulation, data management, complaints mechanisms and inter-agency cooperation.

Gbajabiamila explained that those issues would be addressed in the National Policing Bill and other consequential legislation being prepared by the working group.

Gbajabiamila said the assignment also includes a review of the Police Act 2020, the Police Service Commission framework, police regulations and other laws affected by the reform, alongside provisions for minimum national policing standards, state certification, interstate cooperation, independent complaints institutions, human rights safeguards, forensic systems, funding arrangements and transition plans.

He said President Tinubu had approved a multidisciplinary Policy Advisory Committee, chaired by Justice Mohammed Abdullahi Liman, to provide technical oversight and validate the bill, fiscal framework and implementation materials before executive consideration.

He said the committee would draw its membership from the judiciary, academia, security agencies, the National Assembly, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and state Attorneys-General representing the six geopolitical zones. NigerianBusiness Coverage

Abiodun described the National Policing Bill as one of the most consequential reforms of the Tinubu administration, saying the legislation would provide the legal and operational framework needed to translate the constitutional amendment into a workable policing system.

Abiodun, who represents the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, told reporters that the bill would address critical issues, including the jurisdiction of federal and state police, funding arrangements, recruitment, start-up grants for states and amendments to existing laws affected by the reform.

He noted that many Nigerians had assumed that states would immediately establish police services once the National Assembly approved the constitutional amendment, explaining that the current assignment of the working group is to produce the detailed implementation framework that would make the reform operational. NigerianBusiness Coverage

Nigerian Entrepreneur Support
Abiodun said: “What we’ve seen and witnessed is the amendment of the Constitution, and we’ve seen a groundswell of support by the entirety of Nigerians with a very high level of expectation that once the amendment was completed by the National Assembly, the next thing is for states to begin to implement their various state policing systems.

“The truth is that what this working group is working on is what would allow for the details of that implementation, which will be reflected in the bill.”

Abiodun dismissed insinuations that the Federal Government was attempting to retain control over state policing through the proposed legislation, insisting that the bill was intended only to translate the constitutional amendment into an effective and workable legal framework.

He said: “Someone has to be responsible for ensuring that the amendment now reflects in a bill that can be operated, and that’s what we’re working on.”

The governor explained that the legislation would also make consequential amendments to other existing laws, including the Firearms Act, while clearly defining the responsibilities of both federal and state police services.

He urged Nigerians to actively participate in shaping the proposed legislation through the newly launched public engagement portal, nationalpolicingbill.com, describing it as an interactive platform designed to give citizens a sense of ownership of the reform. NigerianBusiness Coverage

Fagbemi said the primary objective of the proposed legislation was to strengthen the protection of lives and property while ensuring that state police never become instruments of political persecution.

He explained that where any state is not yet prepared to establish its own police service, the Nigeria Police Force would continue to provide policing until such capacity is developed.

Nigerian Business Coverage
Fagbemi said: “Law abhors a vacuum, so the federal presence will continue to dominate in that area.”

The minister defended the proposed minimum national policing standards, saying they were essential to guarantee equal protection for Nigerians irrespective of where they reside. NigerianBusiness Coverage

He said: “The main thrust of this bill is to ensure security of lives and property, and it is also important that we do not make state policing a weapon of political persecution or oppression.

“There must be standards. There must be the minimum threshold to guarantee the continued existence and operation of society.”

The minister said the standards would be aligned with globally recognised policing practices, assuring that officers moving between the federal and state police services would not lose their benefits.

Other members of the Presidential Working Group at the briefing included the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN); Chairman of the Policy Advisory Committee, Justice Abdullahi Liman; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, Nnadubem Moghalu.

Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc (“St Financial” or “the Group”) today released its unaudited results for the half-year ended 30 June 2026, posting broad-based growth across key performance indices.

The Group’s gross earnings rose 31.5% to ₦279.6 billion over the corresponding period in 2025, led by a 33.7% jump in interest income to ₦223.6 billion as the loan book expanded and asset yields improved. Net interest income climbed 41.0% to ₦137.4 billion, while non-interest income grew by 23.3% to ₦56.0 billion, supported by notable increases in fee income and other operating income lines.

Sterling Financial continued to strengthen its balance sheet with total assets expanding by 19.3% to ₦4.67 trillion, supported by a 21.1% growth in customer deposits to ₦3.62 trillion and disciplined expansion in the loan portfolio. The Group’s profit before tax (PBT) rose 21.9% to ₦55.5 billion while profit after tax (PAT) rose 20.4% to ₦50.3 billion.

Return on average equity stood at 20.6% and return on average assets improved to 2.35% from 2.05%.

Sterling Financial’s shareholders’ funds increased 27.8% to ₦547.7 billion in the period under review, primarily reflecting the ₦96.6 billion raised through a public offer of 13.8 billion ordinary shares. The Group’s share price has also appreciated over 15% from its year-opening position, reflecting renewed investor interest in the franchise ahead of the results release. Basic earnings per share stood at 77 kobo, reflecting the enlarged share base following the public offer.

The Group’s performance is anchored by its ongoing modernisation of its technology stack and operating model across its commercial (Sterling Bank), non-interest (AltBank), and wealth management (SterlingFI) arms. That work is showing up in faster service turnaround, tighter unit economics, and greater headroom to absorb rising customer activity without loosening the Group’s risk posture.

The combination of a reinforced capital base, expanding deposit franchise, and broader earnings mix leaves Sterling Financial positioned to compound growth in the second half of the year, channelling capital where it earns most and continuing to lend into the real economy.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has unveiled plans to establish 3.7 gigawatts (GW) of local solar photovoltaic (PV) panel manufacturing capacity by the end of 2027 as Nigeria intensifies efforts to expand electricity access and reduce dependence on imported renewable energy equipment.

Managing Director of the agency, Engr. Abba Aliyu, disclosed the initiative in Abuja during a benchmarking visit by officials of the Zanzibar Utilities Regulatory Authority (ZURA).

He said the agency is encouraging Chinese solar manufacturers to establish production facilities in Nigeria, noting that locally assembled solar panels are already being exported from Lagos to neighbouring Ghana.

According to him, the planned manufacturing expansion will significantly reduce imports while strengthening Nigeria’s renewable energy value chain. Aliyu attributed the rapid global growth of renewable energy to falling prices of solar panels and lithium batteries, saying technological innovation has made off-grid electricity the most cost-effective solution for millions of underserved communities.

He said Nigeria’s electricity access rate currently stands at 61.2 per cent, leaving about 80 million people without reliable power supply.

To address the challenge, REA has adopted a least-cost electrification strategy that determines the most suitable technology for each community rather than relying solely on national grid expansion.

The agency has mapped more than 700,000 communities nationwide, with plans to serve about 45 per cent through solar home systems, 31 per cent through mini-grids and the remaining 24 per cent through grid extension.

Aliyu added that REA has developed one of Africa’s most extensive geospatial electricity databases, covering more than 51,000 health facilities, 11,000 markets, thousands of schools, factories, dams, electricity feeders and existing mini-grids to support investment planning.

He noted that the agency’s interventions also target underserved communities receiving less than six hours of electricity daily. The REA boss warned that electricity demand would continue to rise sharply as Nigeria’s population grows, more sectors become electrified and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data centres consume increasing amounts of power.