The National Assembly has taken a major step toward creating State Police in Nigeria, signaling growing consensus among lawmakers on the need for decentralised policing to tackle persistent security challenges. On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the proposed legislation, with 289 of the 290 members present voting in favour.
The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 14 other lawmakers, seeks to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, allowing states to establish and control their own police formations while remaining under federal oversight. It includes amendments to Sections 197, 214, 215, and 216 of the 1999 Constitution and outlines the operational framework, responsibilities, and oversight mechanisms for both federal and state police forces.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas emphasised that security underpins all national aspirations, stating, “By passing this bill, the House has taken a decisive constitutional step towards creating a policing framework that is more responsive to local realities while remaining firmly anchored within the unity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Senate Endorsement and Safeguards
The Senate passed the bill’s second reading and referred it to the Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further scrutiny. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described the measure as a critical reform to enhance intelligence gathering, improve response time, and foster community policing.
“State police will significantly strengthen Nigeria’s intelligence architecture by enabling officers to understand local languages, customs, and social dynamics,” Bamidele said. He also highlighted that the bill contains safeguards against potential misuse by state governments, including the establishment of State Police Service Commissions, federal oversight, uniform policing standards, and legislative confirmation of senior appointments.
The proposed legislation allows the Federal Police to continue operations in states until a state police force is certified as meeting national minimum standards. It also outlines clear mechanisms for federal intervention in situations where state forces are unable to contain threats to public order.
Support and Opposition
Retired senior police officers have weighed in on the reform. Ali Amodu, a former Assistant Inspector General, urged lawmakers to support the bill, citing the benefits of decentralisation for effective intelligence and community-based policing. Retired Commissioner of Police Ladodo Rabiu, however, cautioned against the initiative, citing financial and operational constraints for states and the potential for jurisdictional conflicts.
Towards Safer Communities
Security experts and advocates argue that establishing state police is a practical step to improve response times, strengthen local intelligence networks, and reduce the operational burden on the Federal Police, especially amid growing threats from terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, and cyber-enabled crimes.
The House vote on Thursday signals a decisive move in Nigeria’s constitutional reform process, with the amendment expected to proceed to state legislatures for ratification before being sent to the President for assent.ntable, and community-focused.
