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Sola Shittu
The Senate on Thursday passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish state police and decentralise policing powers in a bid to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture and address the country’s growing security challenges.
The proposed legislation, which received overwhelming support from lawmakers across party lines and geopolitical zones, was subsequently referred by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further legislative scrutiny.
Leading the debate, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, described the establishment of state police as a critical step toward modernising Nigeria’s security framework and addressing the limitations of the current centralised policing structure.
According to him, Nigeria continues to grapple with a wide range of security threats, including terrorism, banditry, mass abductions, farmer-herder clashes, armed robbery, cult-related violence, pipeline vandalism, communal conflicts and cyber-enabled crimes.
He noted that persistent insecurity and public dissatisfaction with the existing policing arrangement had intensified calls for the creation of state police across the federation.
Bamidele explained that the bill seeks to establish both federal and state police structures with clearly defined responsibilities, while also creating State Police Service Commissions to oversee recruitment, discipline and administration.
The proposed legislation further provides for the transfer of policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby empowering states to participate directly in law enforcement and security management.
“The proposed amendment does not weaken national unity. Rather, it strengthens the federation by enabling each level of government to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities,” he said.
Addressing concerns that state governors could misuse state police for political purposes, Bamidele said the bill contains several safeguards designed to prevent abuse and ensure accountability.
Among the safeguards are the establishment of State Police Service Commissions, oversight by the Federal Police Service Commission, adherence to uniform national policing standards, legislative confirmation of senior appointments, strengthened procedures for the removal of state commissioners of police, periodic operational reviews and federal intervention mechanisms in cases of severe breakdown of law and order.
He said the measures were carefully designed to balance operational independence with constitutional oversight.
The Senate Leader argued that effective security is best achieved when law enforcement institutions are closely connected to the communities they serve.
According to him, officers familiar with local languages, culture, geography and social dynamics are better positioned to gather intelligence and prevent criminal activities before they escalate.
“Modern policing relies heavily on intelligence rather than force. State Police will significantly strengthen Nigeria’s intelligence architecture,” he said.
Bamidele also maintained that state police would improve emergency response times by eliminating bureaucratic delays associated with a highly centralised command structure.
He added that the new arrangement would promote community policing, enhance public trust in law enforcement agencies and allow the federal police to concentrate on interstate crimes, terrorism, organised criminal networks, border security, cybercrime and the protection of critical national assets.
The lawmaker further argued that the proposal aligns with the principles of federalism, noting that many federal nations operate multi-layered policing systems.
He cited examples from the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany, where state, provincial or regional police forces operate alongside federal law enforcement agencies.
“Nigeria should not remain an exception among federal systems,” he stated.
Contributing to the debate, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, expressed strong support for the bill, saying its passage would help regulate and coordinate the numerous vigilante and local security outfits currently operating across the country.
He said the legislation would provide a clear legal framework for the establishment, regulation and operation of state police formations while ensuring proper accountability mechanisms.
Several other senators who spoke during the debate, particularly from the northern region, backed the proposal, arguing that state police would provide a sustainable solution to the nation’s worsening security situation and improve grassroots intelligence gathering.
The bill now awaits further consideration by the Constitution Review Committee before returning to the Senate for additional legislative action.
