American legislator praises Nigeria's approval of provincial law enforcement legislation

US Congressman Rep Riley Moore has expressed his enthusiasm for the passage of Nigeria's State Police Bill by the House of Representatives, viewing it as a crucial move towards addressing insecurity and alleged Christian persecution in the country.

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The bill, which was passed on Thursday during a plenary session, garnered 289 votes in favour, one against, and one abstention, marking a significant step towards allowing Nigeria's 36 states to establish their own police forces in conjunction with the Federal Nigeria Police Force.

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Moore has been a long-time advocate for the creation of state police in Nigeria, dating back to when US President Donald Trump ordered an investigation into the alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, and has repeatedly raised the issue with various Nigerian delegations, including the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, during her visit to Washington.

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According to Moore, the passage of this bill is a testament to the progress being made, as he stated, "I am thankful to see that Nigeria's House of Representatives passed this important policy that I've been calling for since @POTUS first asked me to investigate the genocide against Christians in Nigeria."

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Moore also commended President Bola Tinubu for his support of the legislation, stating, "President Tinubu deserves credit for supporting this legislation and urging its passage through Nigeria's parliament."

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The congressman noted that while there is still much work to be done before state-level police forces become operational, the passage of the bill is an indication that US efforts are yielding results, as he remarked, "There's still a long way to go before state-level police forces will be in place, but this is a sign that all our hard work is paying off."

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The bill, which amends Sections 214-216 and other provisions of the 1999 Constitution, aims to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, enabling states to create their own police services provided they meet national minimum standards set by the National Assembly.

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To become law, the bill must now be passed by the Senate, ratified by at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, and receive presidential assent, with the bill having already passed the second reading in the Senate.

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If the bill is ultimately passed into law, it would be considered a major achievement of the Tinubu administration and a significant shift in Nigeria's security architecture, with supporters arguing that decentralised policing will lead to improved response times, intelligence gathering, and community policing.