The Senate has taken a major step towards establishing state police in Nigeria after a bill seeking to transfer some policing powers to state governments passed second reading on Thursday.
The proposed legislation aims to change the country’s current security structure by allowing states to create and manage their own police systems under a regulated framework.
Following the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further consideration.
Lawmakers highlight security concerns
Leading the debate on the bill, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described state police as an important reform that could improve Nigeria’s internal security response.
Bamidele argued that local police officers would have better knowledge of their communities, including languages, traditions, and local security concerns, which could improve intelligence gathering.
He said effective modern policing depends heavily on access to reliable information and community cooperation.
Senate says decentralised policing could address threats
The Senate Leader noted that Nigeria continues to face several security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, communal conflicts, cybercrime, and other criminal activities.
According to him, the growing nature of these threats has increased calls for a more localised policing system, as many Nigerians believe the current centralised structure faces limitations.
Bamidele said the proposal is part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s security framework and promote stronger cooperation between different levels of government.
Lawmakers support regulation of vigilante groups
Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, also backed the bill, saying state police could provide a legal structure for regulating various vigilante groups operating across the country.
He explained that the proposed framework would help ensure proper oversight, accountability, and defined responsibilities for state security agencies.
House of Representatives also moves on State Police Bill
The development followed a similar move by the House of Representatives, which earlier approved the State Police Bill.
The ongoing legislative process represents one of the strongest steps towards changing Nigeria’s policing system and introducing a more decentralised security approach.