Bamidele: State Police Must Act Now, Proposal Has Nationwide Support

*Says it has overwhelming legislative backing

*Insists safeguards will check potential abuses

*Ex-IYC president hails Tinubu for proposal

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt 

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele stated yesterday that the creation of state police can no longer be postponed amid Nigeria’s escalating security crisis.

Bamidele defended the proposal, noting that the constitutional amendment bill—supported nationwide—was conceived in response to worsening security challenges rather than for political gain.

In a signed statement, he addressed the growing public debate over the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026.

Bamidele said the proposal reflects years of nationwide consultations and broad consensus among key stakeholders, insisting it should not be reduced to partisan politics.

The Senate passed the bill on June 24 as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process, in line with the lower chamber, which had approved it earlier.

Bamidele noted that public feedback indicated many Nigerians embraced the proposal because of its potential to improve security at state and community levels.

He expressed concern about attempts by some critics to politicise the initiative, portraying it as a tool that governors could use against political opponents.

Opponents also argued that Nigeria is not yet ready for state policing and warned that the arrangement could revive the excesses of regional policing during the First Republic.

However, the Senate Leader maintained that these concerns were addressed during the legislative process through extensive consultations and the inclusion of institutional safeguards.

According to him, the campaign for state police began during the constitutional review process, with memoranda submitted to the National Assembly.

Because of the proposal’s sensitive nature, lawmakers consulted extensively with the executive branch, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force before presenting the bill for consideration.

Bamidele added that public hearings held across the country’s six geopolitical zones in July 2025 produced overwhelming support for the proposal, with participants endorsing state police as a practical response to rising insecurity.

He also disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force formally submitted a memorandum supporting the initiative and provided recommendations that helped lawmakers design accountability and oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse of state police by political office holders.

According to him, the police leadership’s support highlighted the strategic importance of decentralising policing to address security threats more effectively at the grassroots.

Bamidele further stressed that the bill enjoyed bipartisan support in the National Assembly despite concerns in some political circles.

He said lawmakers from opposition parties—including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), New Democratic Congress (NDC) and Labour Party—joined members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in supporting the legislation.

He revealed that 84 of the 109 senators voted in favour of the bill during clause‑by‑clause consideration, representing about 77 % approval in the Senate.

The Senate Leader urged political actors to prioritise national security over partisan interests, arguing that security is a collective public good that transcends political, ethnic and religious differences.

He maintained that while constructive criticism is essential in a democracy, opposition to initiatives aimed at strengthening national security should be accompanied by practical alternatives capable of addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

Bamidele insisted that the proposed state police framework has become an urgent national necessity and should not be delayed because of political calculations or personal ambitions.

He expressed confidence that, if adopted, the constitutional amendment would strengthen the internal security architecture and improve protection of lives and property across the federation. 

Ex-IYC President Praises Tinubu for Proposing Establishment of State Police 

A former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, praised President Bola Tinubu for demonstrating the political will to propose the establishment of state police.

In a statement issued by Eradiri, a former Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa State, yesterday, he said Tinubu had again displayed uncommon vision and strength in areas where his predecessors lacked courage.

He described the move as a long‑awaited reform, commending President Tinubu for having the courage to actualise it.

“I think it is better late than never. We are coming late on the issue of state police. It has been an issue Nigerians have been yearning for over the years. 

“Nobody had mustered the political will to actualise it, but we want to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for having the political will to actualise it,” he said.

Eradiri added that the President had shown similar determination in other sectors, particularly the energy sector.

He, however, said the proposed establishment of state police would not by itself solve Nigeria’s security challenges unless state and local government authorities demonstrated leadership.

Eradiri argued that Nigeria’s insecurity was rooted more in poor state leadership than in the absence of police.

According to him, many governors have failed to address the underlying causes of insecurity, including unemployment, weak local governance and poor investment in security infrastructure.

“It is not just about the state police. From the local government to the state, the drivers of insecurity are those areas that the governors have failed to deal with. We don’t expect state police to perform any magic because it will not,” he said.