JUST IN: SENATE APPROVES STATE POLICE BILL IN MAJOR SECURITY REFORM MOVE

SENATE APPROVES STATE POLICE BILL IN MAJOR SECURITY REFORM MOVE

Nigeria’s Senate on Wednesday approved a constitutional amendment bill seeking the creation of state police, marking a significant development in ongoing efforts to restructure the country’s security framework and strengthen law enforcement at the sub-national level.

The bill was passed during plenary after lawmakers concluded deliberations on the proposed legislation, which has remained a major topic in national conversations around insecurity and police reform.

During the voting process, senators initially planned to adopt the electronic voting system, but technical issues reportedly affected the device, raising concerns that some lawmakers could be excluded from participating in the exercise.

To avoid delays and ensure full participation, the Senate resolved to switch to a manual voting method, allowing senators to openly declare their votes on the floor of the chamber.

Under the adopted process, each senator was required to stand, identify themselves, and publicly state their position on the proposed constitutional amendment.

The motion for manual voting was moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and received broad support from members of the upper legislative chamber.

The approval of the state police bill is being regarded as one of the most significant constitutional reform efforts currently before the National Assembly, especially amid growing calls for decentralized security operations to tackle rising criminal activities across different states.

Supporters of state policing have consistently argued that allowing states to manage their own police structure could improve intelligence gathering, enhance rapid response to local security threats, and strengthen grassroots security operations nationwide.

However, despite the Senate’s approval, the bill will still undergo additional legislative and constitutional procedures before becoming fully operational under Nigerian law.

The debate around state police has remained active for years, with proponents emphasizing its potential benefits while critics continue to raise concerns over possible abuse by state governments.

The latest development signals another major step toward possible changes in Nigeria’s long-standing centralized policing system.