Lawmakers set to decide on statewide law enforcement plan as safety efforts intensify

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By Gift Chapi-Odekina, Abuja

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The House of Representatives is set to vote on a key constitutional amendment bill seeking the creation of state police, as part of renewed legislative efforts to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.

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House leaders confirmed in Abuja on the eve of the decisive plenary session that the proposed reform has gained significant momentum within the ongoing constitutional review process, with lawmakers expressing optimism that it could secure approval.

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Speaking on behalf of the House leadership, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu said the legislature is committed to using constitutional tools to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that the current centralised policing structure has become inadequate in responding to emerging threats across the country.

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Kalu explained that the House has engaged extensively with security agencies, service chiefs, the Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office and other relevant stakeholders through its oversight functions, but stressed that deeper structural reforms are now necessary.

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According to him, there is growing consensus among key stakeholders—including the Inspector-General of Police, state governors and members of the executive arm—in support of decentralising the policing system to improve effectiveness and response time.

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“Hope is coming. The hope of having better response time to incidents of crime is here,” Kalu and other House leaders said, expressing confidence that the reform would advance through the legislative process.

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He disclosed that the House Committee on Constitution Review has worked extensively on provisions designed to create a legal framework for state police, describing the proposal as a critical response to Nigeria’s security realities.

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The Deputy Speaker also urged lawmakers currently on oversight duties across the country to return to Abuja to participate in the vote, describing the security situation as urgent and requiring full parliamentary attention.

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“We want all our members to be in the House so that we can show our constituents that we are in support of state police and that security remains a priority on our agenda,” he said.

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House leaders further expressed confidence that once passed by the National Assembly, the proposal would receive the support of state Houses of Assembly and governors, paving the way for presidential assent.

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The renewed push for state policing comes amid increasing calls from stakeholders for decentralisation of Nigeria’s security system, with advocates arguing that it would improve intelligence gathering, enhance grassroots policing and strengthen overall national security.

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