By Adesakin Adefemi
The Senate on Thursday passed a bill seeking to establish state police and devolve policing powers to subnational governments through second reading, in what lawmakers described as a major step toward tackling Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, referred the legislation to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further scrutiny after it drew broad support across party lines in the Red Chamber.
Leading the debate, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the creation of state police was a critical reform needed to strengthen the country’s internal security framework amid growing doubts about the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force to handle emerging threats.
Bamidele argued that local officers would be better placed to gather actionable intelligence because they understand community languages, customs, and social structures. He said modern policing depends more on intelligence than force, and state police would boost Nigeria’s intelligence architecture.
He listed the security challenges facing the country, including terrorism, banditry, mass abductions, farmer-herder conflicts, cultism, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism, communal clashes, and cyber-enabled crimes. According to him, the localised nature of these threats has fueled public demand for decentralised policing.
The bill, he explained, proposes to establish both federal and state police, define their responsibilities, create State Police Service Commissions, and move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List. It also provides for oversight and collaboration among different levels of government.
Addressing fears that governors could misuse state police, Bamidele said the bill includes safeguards such as State Police Service Commissions, federal oversight through the Federal Police Service Commission, uniform national standards, and legislative confirmation of senior appointments.
He added that state police would enable faster response to security incidents, promote community policing, and relieve pressure on federal officers, who could then focus on interstate crimes, terrorism, organised networks, border security, cybercrime, and protection of federal assets.
Bamidele also cited international examples, noting that countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany operate multi-layered policing systems with subnational forces working alongside federal agencies. He said Nigeria should not remain an exception.
Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno backed the bill, saying it would provide a legal framework for state police and help regulate the growing number of vigilante groups. The debate signaled growing legislative consensus for the proposal as lawmakers continue to seek solutions to persistent insecurity.
