A United States congressman has welcomed Nigeria’s approval of a constitutional amendment bill paving the way for the creation of state police, describing the move as a significant step towards tackling insecurity and protecting vulnerable communities, particularly Christians affected by violence.
The lawmaker said decentralising policing could strengthen local security responses, improve intelligence gathering and help curb persistent attacks linked to religious persecution in parts of the country.
According to him, empowering state governments with their own police forces could enhance public safety, restore confidence in law enforcement and address longstanding security challenges that have overwhelmed the country’s centralised policing system.
The constitutional bill, which seeks to establish state-controlled police services alongside the federal police, is widely seen as one of Nigeria’s most consequential security reforms in decades. Supporters argue it will enable quicker responses to local threats, while critics have raised concerns over possible political misuse by state authorities.
The congressman’s endorsement comes amid growing international attention on Nigeria’s security crisis and repeated calls for reforms aimed at strengthening law enforcement and safeguarding human rights.
