A bill aimed at establishing state police and devolving policing powers to subnational governments to bolster Nigeria’s internal security architecture on Thursday successfully scaled second reading in the Senate.
The legislation, which enjoys broad bipartisan backing across political lines, was referred to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution by Senate President Godswill Akpabio for further legislative scrutiny and refinement.
Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who sponsored the bill, led the debate, underscoring the urgent need to address the Nigeria Police Force’s diminishing capacity to maintain internal stability in the face of escalating security threats.
Nigeria continues to grapple with multifaceted security challenges, including terrorism and violent extremism, banditry and mass abductions, farmer-herder clashes, cultism, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism, communal conflicts, and emerging cyber-enabled crimes.
Bamidele noted that these evolving, localised threats have exposed the limitations of a centralised policing system, prompting widespread calls from Nigerians for the creation of state police forces. “The bill seeks to modernise Nigeria’s security architecture by establishing Federal and State Police structures, defining their respective responsibilities, creating State Police Service Commissions, and providing robust oversight mechanisms,” Bamidele explained.
He added that the proposed constitutional amendment would transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby strengthening cooperative federalism in security administration.
Addressing concerns about potential abuse by state governments, the Senate Leader highlighted several built-in safeguards, including the establishment of State Police Service Commissions, federal oversight via the Federal Police Service Commission, uniform national policing standards, legislative confirmation of senior appointments, strengthened removal procedures for state commissioners of police, periodic operational reviews, and federal intervention powers in cases of breakdown of law and order.
“These safeguards are intended to create a balanced framework that combines operational autonomy with accountability and constitutional oversight,” Bamidele said. “The bill does not weaken national unity; rather, it strengthens the Federation by enabling each level of government to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.”
He further argued that security is most effective when localised, with officers familiar with the terrain, language, culture, and dynamics of their communities best positioned to gather intelligence and respond swiftly. “Modern policing relies heavily on intelligence rather than force. State Police will significantly strengthen Nigeria’s intelligence architecture,” he stated.
Additional benefits, according to Bamidele, include faster emergency response, enhanced community policing and public trust, reduced pressure on the Federal Police, allowing it to focus on interstate crimes, terrorism, border security, and national assets and a more authentic federal structure. Citing global examples, he pointed to successful multi-layered policing systems in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany, urging Nigeria not to remain an outlier among federal nations.
Following Bamidele’s presentation, several senators, particularly from the North, voiced strong support, describing the bill as a critical step toward lasting solutions to the country’s insecurity.
Chief Whip Senator Tahir Monguno expressed robust backing, saying the legislation would provide a proper legal framework for state police operations while regulating and absorbing the proliferation of vigilante groups across the country.
The bill now advances to the constitutional review committee for detailed examination.
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