The House of Representatives has approved the Executive Bill seeking to establish state police, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to decentralise its policing system and strengthen internal security across the country.
The bill was passed during plenary on Thursday after lawmakers agreed to withdraw an earlier constitutional amendment proposal on state policing and instead adopted the Executive Bill presented by the Executive arm of government.
The decision represents a significant shift in the legislative process, with the House choosing to consolidate support around the Executive’s proposal as the preferred framework for creating state police formations.
The development comes shortly after the Nigerian Senate also passed its version of the legislation, bringing the National Assembly closer to concluding legislative work on one of the country’s most debated security reforms.
If eventually signed into law, the proposed legislation will pave the way for a dual policing structure in Nigeria, allowing both the Federal Government and state governments to operate separate police services within clearly defined constitutional and legal frameworks.
Supporters of the bill have consistently argued that establishing state police would improve community policing, enhance intelligence gathering and enable quicker responses to local security challenges.
They also believe decentralising policing responsibilities would reduce the burden on the Nigeria Police Force and improve coordination in tackling crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence.
For several years, calls for state police have dominated discussions on constitutional reforms, with governors, traditional rulers, civil society organisations and security experts repeatedly advocating the measure as a practical solution to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Opponents, however, have expressed concerns that state police could be abused by state governments to intimidate political opponents or suppress dissent if adequate constitutional safeguards are not put in place.
The passage of the Executive Bill by both chambers of the National Assembly signals growing legislative support for the reform, although further constitutional and legal processes must still be completed before the proposal becomes law.
More details on the specific provisions of the legislation and the next stage of the legislative process are expected to emerge in the coming days.
