Senate Approves State Police Constitutional Amendments
In a significant step toward security sector reform, the Nigerian Senate has passed constitutional amendment bills to establish state police in the country. The development was announced on Wednesday afternoon, June 24, via a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Imran Muhammad, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda.
Muhammad wrote: "Breaking: The Senate has passed constitutional amendments to establish state police in Nigeria." The move, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, marks a landmark effort to strengthen security and decentralise policing nationwide.
Contentious Debate Surrounds State Police
The call for state police remains a contentious issue among Nigerian political figures. Critics argue that without proper safeguards, state police could be exploited by governors to harass political opponents, suppress dissent, and stifle press freedom. Supporters, however, maintain that state policing is the most effective way to tackle the country's escalating insecurity.
This amendment represents a major shift in Nigeria's policing structure, which has been centralised under the Nigeria Police Force since independence. The passage of the bills is expected to spark further debate as the House of Representatives considers its own version and state legislatures deliberate on ratification.
