In a landmark move that could redefine Nigeria’s security architecture, the House of Representatives has passed the long-debated State Police Bill, paving the way for the decentralisation of policing across the country. The development marks one of the most significant constitutional reform efforts in recent years as lawmakers seek lasting solutions to the nation’s worsening insecurity.
The bill was approved during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, following an overwhelming vote by lawmakers. Out of 290 members present, 289 voted in support of the proposal, while only one member voted against it. The Speaker abstained from voting. The outcome reflects broad legislative backing for a policing system that allows states to establish and manage their own police formations.
The passage of the bill comes amid growing concerns over persistent security challenges across the country, including terrorism, banditry, kidnappings and violent crimes. Many proponents of state policing argue that Nigeria’s current centralised police structure has struggled to effectively address security threats in various regions, making a more localised approach necessary. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Proceedings leading to the vote were not without controversy. During the session, a lawmaker from Kaduna State raised concerns that members had only received the constitutional review document on the same day and had insufficient time to study its contents. However, the objection was overruled, allowing deliberations and voting to continue. Reports from the chamber indicated that some lawmakers attempted to raise additional procedural concerns during the clause-by-clause consideration, but the leadership proceeded with the exercise.
Before the vote commenced, lawmakers were informed that the electronic voting system was experiencing technical difficulties. As a result, voting was conducted based on attendance in the chamber. Despite the challenges, the proposal received near-unanimous support from members present.
The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and several other lawmakers, seeks constitutional amendments that would move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List. This change would empower individual states to establish and control their own police services while operating within a constitutional framework.
Supporters of the initiative believe state police will improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community policing, enhance rapid response to crimes and provide security solutions tailored to local realities. They argue that governors and local authorities are often better positioned to understand the unique security needs of their states than a centrally controlled system operating from Abuja.
However, critics have consistently warned about the possibility of abuse by state governments. Concerns have been raised that state-controlled police forces could be used against political opponents or become tools for suppressing dissent if adequate safeguards are not built into the legal framework. Despite these reservations, momentum for state police has continued to grow among governors, federal lawmakers and other stakeholders who view the reform as necessary to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
With the House of Representatives now approving the bill, the next stage of the constitutional amendment process will involve consideration by other legislative institutions and endorsement by the required number of state Houses of Assembly before it can eventually be presented for presidential assent. If successfully completed, the reform could usher in a new era of policing and security management in Nigeria, fundamentally altering how law enforcement operates across the federation.
