State Police Bill Advances After Second Senate Reading

A bill that would create state police forces and transfer policing authority to sub‑national governments passed its second reading in the Senate on Thursday.

The move represents a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to add state police to Nigeria’s security framework.

After the vote, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Ad‑hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further examination.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who chaired the debate, said the establishment of state police is a vital reform designed to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security amid growing concerns about the Nigerian Police Force’s ability to address emerging threats.

“The establishment of state police will improve intelligence gathering: Local police officers are better equipped to obtain actionable intelligence from communities because they understand local languages, customs and social structures,” Bamidele said.

“Modern policing relies heavily on intelligence rather than force. State Police will significantly strengthen Nigeria’s intelligence architecture,” he added.

Bamidele noted that Nigeria faces a broad spectrum of security challenges, including terrorism and violent extremism, banditry, mass abductions, farmer‑herder conflicts, cultism, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism, communal clashes and cyber‑enabled crimes.

He said the increasing complexity and localised nature of these threats have prompted public demand for state police, as many Nigerians believe the country’s centralised policing structure can no longer adequately respond to security realities across the federation.

He said he sponsored the bill as part of a broader effort to modernise the nation’s security framework and strengthen cooperative federalism.

Senate Chief Whip Senator Tahir Monguno also voiced support for the proposal, arguing it would help regulate the growing number of vigilante groups operating across the country.

“The bill will provide a legal framework for the establishment and operation of state police, enabling them to effectively discharge their responsibilities while ensuring proper regulation and accountability,” Monguno said.

Earlier on Thursday, the House of Representatives approved the State Police Bill, marking another major step toward decentralising Nigeria’s policing system.