Nigeria’s House of Representatives has passed the Executive Bill seeking to establish state police, marking a significant step in the country’s long-running debate over decentralising policing and tackling insecurity.
The bill, which received the approval of the lower chamber on Thursday, is one of the most consequential security reform proposals in recent years. It is designed to allow states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force, subject to constitutional safeguards and federal oversight.
Supporters of the legislation argue that state police will strengthen grassroots security, improve intelligence gathering, and enable quicker responses to local security threats, including banditry, kidnapping and communal violence.
However, the proposal has also attracted criticism from those who fear it could be abused by state governments for political purposes or undermine the neutrality of law enforcement.
The bill forms part of a broader constitutional reform agenda aimed at addressing Nigeria’s persistent security challenges. It is expected to proceed through the remaining legislative and constitutional amendment processes before it can become law.
The passage by the House of Representatives represents a major milestone in the push for policing reforms, although the proposal must still complete the constitutional requirements before it can be fully implemented.
