The House of Representatives is set to pass the State Police Bill as part of efforts to address rising insecurity in parts of the country, including repeated bandit attacks on rural communities and schools, while also strengthening rapid response, local intelligence gathering, and overall security at the grassroots.
The move follows an announcement from the Federal Government indicating that plans for the establishment of state police have reached an advanced stage, with a constitutional amendment now nearing completion after months of technical and security consultations across key institutions.
Speaking on Wednesday while addressing parliamentary correspondents on behalf of the 37 caucus leaders in the House, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu said the proposed amendment had become necessary in view of the growing incidents of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes across the country.
He explained that the National Assembly has both a constitutional responsibility to oversee security agencies and a legislative duty to strengthen the country’s security architecture through appropriate legal frameworks.
Kalu noted that extensive consultations had been carried out on the proposal, adding that the Inspector-General of Police and his team, the executive arm of government, and all 36 state governors had expressed support for the establishment of state police.
He further explained that current constitutional provisions, particularly Section 214 and related sections, do not adequately support a decentralised policing structure capable of effectively responding to insecurity and ensuring faster intervention during criminal incidents.
The Deputy Speaker assured Nigerians that the House remains united in its resolve to ensure the success of the proposal, dismissing suggestions that there were attempts to frustrate its passage.