By Adesakin Adefemi
The Plateau State House of Assembly has declared its readiness to provide legislative backing for the creation of state police, saying the bill will be treated as a priority once it is formally presented. Speaker of the House, Naanlong Daniel, gave the assurance in Jos on Thursday during an advocacy visit by the Plateau State Advisory Committee on State Police.
Daniel said the Assembly believes state policing will contribute significantly to ending the prolonged insecurity affecting parts of Plateau State and other regions of the country. He stressed that lawmakers have long supported the idea and have consistently advocated for its establishment.
The Speaker also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for demonstrating commitment toward addressing insecurity and supporting reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture. He assured the advisory committee of the legislature’s full cooperation and readiness to provide the necessary legislative support to ensure the success of the initiative.
Daniel further stressed that security remains a collective responsibility and that all stakeholders must work together to achieve lasting peace across the state. He said the Assembly is prepared to work with the executive and other stakeholders to ensure the proposed law addresses the peculiar security challenges of Plateau communities.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Plateau State Advisory Committee on State Police, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Habila Joshak, told the Assembly that Plateau’s complex security challenges over the years make state police a vital step. He said the structure would strengthen security management, improve intelligence gathering, and restore public confidence in law enforcement.
Joshak said the committee is expected to serve as a reference point for other states across the federation as discussions on state policing continue nationwide. He noted that the role of the State Assembly in achieving the objective can not be overstated, stressing that lawmakers will be instrumental in providing the legal backing and careful legislative planning required for successful implementation.
Committee member Chris Kwajah appealed to legislators to expedite action on the proposed legislation once presented. He described the bill as an opportunity to tackle persistent security challenges and address perceived gaps in the conventional policing system. Kwajah said a state police structure would enhance local intelligence gathering, improve response time to security threats, and strengthen community participation in maintaining law and order.
The committee reiterated that the proposed state police structure would be inclusive and serve all citizens equally, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation. It emphasized that fairness, professionalism, and accountability would be central principles guiding the operations of the new security outfit.
The Plateau State Advisory Committee on state police was constituted by Governor Caleb Mutfwang in March to facilitate implementation of state policing and provide guidance on its operational framework. Thursday’s advocacy visit forms part of ongoing consultations ahead of the formal introduction and consideration of the state police bill in the Assembly.
