The Presidency has disclosed that Nigeria is moving closer to establishing state police, with a constitutional amendment required for the new policing structure expected to be introduced soon.

Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, made the disclosure after a high-level consultative meeting on state police held at the State House in Abuja.

According to Gbajabiamila, discussions on the proposed state policing framework began several months ago on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and have made significant progress.

He explained that establishing state police involves complex constitutional and legal processes that require extensive consultations among stakeholders, including the Executive, the National Assembly, and security agencies.

“We started deliberations in the last three or four months on how to go about the establishment of state police as directed by Mr President. Establishing state police is not something that you do with the snap of the fingers. There is a lot involved in terms of constitution and legalities, and thank God we have now gained a lot of traction,” he said.

Constitutional Amendment Under Consideration

Gbajabiamila stated that attention is now focused on drafting the constitutional amendment that will provide the legal basis for state police, while enabling legislation will follow afterward.

“Right now, what we are looking at is the constitutional amendment itself, and then the enabling law would follow thereafter,” he added.

The Chief of Staff noted that there is growing national consensus on the need for state police, stressing that the debate has shifted from whether Nigeria should adopt the system to how it should be implemented effectively.

Tinubu to Receive Report

Gbajabiamila said President Tinubu would be presented with a detailed report of the consultations and recommendations arising from the meeting.

The proposed reform is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture by improving grassroots intelligence gathering, enhancing rapid response capabilities, and empowering state governments to address local security challenges more effectively.

President Tinubu has consistently advocated for decentralised policing, arguing that state police would provide a more effective response to the country’s evolving security threats while improving protection of lives and property.

Key Stakeholders Attend Meeting

Among those present at the meeting were Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, and Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, alongside other senior government and security officials.

If approved, the state police initiative would represent one of the most significant security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history, potentially reshaping law enforcement and internal security management across the country.

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It’s the new badge of honor in Nigeria’s political game. Not good governance. Not policy reform. But plastering their names on buildings paid for by the public.

This disturbing trend is now woven into the fabric of Nigeria’s political landscape. The funds may be public, but the glory is often hijacked. Whether it’s a block of classrooms, a bridge, or a market—once it’s complete, it becomes a monument not to service or community, but to the politician who made it happen… with your money.

Politicians and Self-Promotion: The Rise of “Monumental” Naming

Former Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, did it. The hall of residence at the University of Lagos wasn’t paid for from his personal account—it came from a constituency project funded through the national budget. Yet, there it stands, with his name proudly etched on it. Like a gift from a generous king.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had his turn too. A learning center for orphans of Boko Haram in Maiduguri, named after him. Noble project, questionable naming choice. Why stamp your name on something meant to serve the most vulnerable? Isn’t it enough to have done the work?

In Ebonyi, David Umahi named both a university and a market after himself while still serving as governor. In Akwa Ibom, a 21-storey tower was named after former governor Udom Emmanuel by the very man he helped put in power. It’s a mutual admiration society funded by the masses.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name is already on multiple public projects, just over a year into his term. Even his wife, Remi Tinubu, has been honored with her name slapped on a new healthcare center in Lagos—courtesy of a local council chairman desperate to curry favor.

It’s a growing list, and the absurdity doesn’t end there. Some of the same politicians who once criticized military regimes for naming infrastructure after themselves are now doing exactly that. Power, as they say, changes people. And in Nigeria, it appears to change plaques, too.

The Changing Culture: From Honoring the Dead to Self-Glorification

Historically, naming a project after someone was a sacred gesture. Reserved for giants like Obafemi Awolowo or Nnamdi Azikiwe, whose lives and legacies transformed entire regions. It wasn’t done lightly, and it certainly wasn’t done while they were still in office. It was a way for a grateful nation to say, “Thank you,” long after the applause had faded.

Today, the applause doesn’t wait. Politicians clap for themselves. They commission projects and christen them all in one breath. It’s governance meets vanity project—a strategy to write themselves into the history books before history has had a chance to judge them.

The Downside: A Culture of Impunity

Gbenro Olajuyigbe, Executive Director of Emergency and Risk Alert, calls this behavior what it is: crude impunity. He argues that this kind of self-glorification isn’t just tasteless—it’s dangerous. It erodes the democratic principle of public ownership and feeds into a culture of entitlement among the political elite.

The power holders treat public assets like private trophies,” Olajuyigbe said. “They’re not serving; they’re showcasing. We’ve allowed this behavior to continue because we’re intimidated, and in some cases, sycophantic. We’ve traded accountability for applause.”

Politicians, Accountability, and Governance

Bukola Bassey, a public affairs analyst, agrees. She believes the trend shows just how far we’ve let our expectations drop. A hospital gets built not a world-class facility, just a basic one—and it’s seen as divine intervention. The politician who facilitated it is celebrated like a messiah, instead of simply being acknowledged as someone doing their job.

“Building a road or a school is not extraordinary,” Bassey said. “It’s literally what they were elected to do.”

The Risk of Setting a Dangerous Precedent

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani of CISLAC thinks the practice is setting a very dark precedent. If current politicians name projects after themselves while in power, what’s to stop the next crop from naming the whole country after their families?

He points to the recent renaming of an airport to Bola Ahmed Tinubu Airport as an example of how this culture is getting out of hand. There was backlash, but no lesson learned. More projects have followed, each carrying a familiar name.

“It sends the wrong message,” Rafsanjani warns. “If you want a building named after you, earn it. Let others decide if your legacy deserves that honor.”

The Danger of Self-Glorification in Politics

But why do these leaders crave their names in stone? Psychologist Mathew Adebola says it’s a mix of insecurity and image-building. For many, holding office isn’t enough. They want permanence. They want something to outlive their time in power, even if their leadership was mediocre.

“It’s not about public service. It’s about personal branding,” Adebola explains. “It’s legacy-building on a foundation of vanity.”

And it works—until it doesn’t. Because history, unlike concrete, is fluid. Today’s monument can become tomorrow’s mockery. Statues fall. Buildings are renamed. Streets are repainted. What remains is impact, and no plaque can manufacture that.

The Road to True Legacy: Governance Without Glory-Seeking

In the end, the real tragedy isn’t just the self-promotion. It’s the missed opportunity to truly serve. These leaders could let their actions speak louder than their names. They could invest in institutions that last longer than their terms. But instead, they choose shortcuts to immortality, forgetting that a name on a building is just a name—unless the building changes lives.

And if things keep going this way, we might wake up to news of “Shekau University” or “Bandit General Hospital” someday.

Absurd? Yes. But in a nation where politics is theater and public service is brand management, it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.

The post From Power to Plaster: How Nigerian Politicians Are Turning Public Projects into Personal Glory appeared first on Housing TV Africa.