State Police Bill Advances in National Assembly: What It Means for Nigeria’s Security.
National Assembly, federal Republic of Nigeria
Nigeria moved one step closer to decentralized policing this week. The House of Representatives passed a constitutional amendment bill that would allow all 36 states to establish their own police forces. The bill, which has been debated for years, now heads to the Senate for concurrence. If both chambers agree and 24 state assemblies approve, Nigeria’s security structure will change for the first time since 1999.
For ordinary Nigerians dealing with banditry, kidnapping, and farmer-herder clashes, this bill could be the biggest security reform in decades. But it also raises questions about funding, abuse, and political control.
The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to remove policing from the Exclusive Legislative List. Right now, only the federal government can create and control the Nigeria Police Force. The amendment would move police to the Concurrent List. That means both federal and state governments can legislate on policing.
Key provisions include:
1. State Police Creation: Each state governor can establish a State Police Service through a law passed by the State House of Assembly.
2. Federal Police Remains: The Nigeria Police Force will not be scrapped. It will operate alongside state police, handling federal crimes, interstate issues, and national security.
3. Governor’s Role: The governor will appoint the State Commissioner of Police, subject to confirmation by the State Assembly.
4. Funding: States must fund their own police from state allocations and internally generated revenue.
5. Standards: The National Police Council will set minimum standards for training, weapons, and operations to prevent abuse.
Insecurity has forced the conversation. From Sokoto to Ebonyi, many communities say the federal police are too overstretched to respond quickly. Bandits in the Northwest, gunmen in the Southeast, and kidnappers along the Abuja-Kaduna road have exposed the limits of a single, centralized force.
State governors have argued for years that they are “chief security officers” without control of security agencies. During the 2023 elections, all major presidential candidates supported state police. President Bola Tinubu has also backed the idea, saying local policing is key to ending insecurity.
The House passed the bill with overwhelming support. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas said it was a response to “the yearnings of Nigerians for a safer country.”
1. Faster Response: A police station in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara, would take orders from Gusau, not Abuja. That cuts response time during attacks.
2. Local Knowledge: Officers who speak the language and know the terrain are more effective in intelligence gathering.
3. Accountability: Governors and state assemblies would be directly responsible for security failures in their states.
4. Jobs: Each state force could recruit thousands of youths, easing unemployment.
Critics are not against the idea, but they warn about implementation.
1. Political Abuse: Opponents fear governors could use state police to intimidate opposition during elections. The bill tries to fix this by giving State Assemblies confirmation powers and the National Police Council oversight.
2. Funding Gaps: Many states struggle to pay salaries. A poorly funded state police could become another welfare problem or lead to extortion.
3. Jurisdiction Clashes: What happens when federal and state police disagree at a crime scene? The bill says federal law supersedes, but confusion is likely in the early years.
4. Training Standards: If each state trains differently, Nigeria could end up with 37 police forces of varying quality.
The bill needs Senate approval. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has said the Red Chamber supports state police “in principle.” If the Senate passes it, 24 of 36 State Houses of Assembly must vote yes. Then the President signs it into law.
Legal experts say the whole process could take 6 to 12 months. Even after passage, states will need another 1 to 2 years to recruit, train, and equip officers.
State police will not end banditry overnight. But it gives governors tools they’ve asked for since 1999. Success will depend on strong laws against abuse, clear funding plans, and cooperation between federal and state commands.
For citizens, the hope is simple: when you call for help, someone nearby actually comes.
God will Nigeria.
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