Senate Approves State Police Bill, Advances Security Reform Agenda

The Senate has approved a constitutional amendment bill that would allow the establishment of state police services across Nigeria, marking a significant step in efforts to strengthen security and improve policing at the grassroots level.

The legislation was adopted during plenary following deliberations by lawmakers under the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The proposed amendment seeks to introduce a dual policing structure consisting of a federal police system and separate police services operated by state governments.

It provides the constitutional foundation for states to create their own law enforcement agencies while maintaining the existing federal police structure until state police formations become fully operational.

Under the arrangement, the federal police will continue to oversee national security matters, federal offences, crimes that cross state boundaries and security operations within the Federal Capital Territory.

State police services will be responsible for maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, and addressing security challenges within their respective states.

The bill also sets out guidelines for the appointment, supervision, discipline and removal of senior police officers at both federal and state levels, while allowing federal intervention under specific emergency situations.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier submitted the proposal to the National Assembly as part of broader efforts to reform the country’s security architecture and improve public safety.

Lawmakers eventually passed the bill through a manual voting process after the Senate’s electronic voting system failed to function despite repeated attempts to activate it.