State Police Bill Passes House as Lawmakers Back Major Security Shift

State Police Bill has passed the House of Representatives, bringing Nigeria a step closer to creating state police as part of efforts to strengthen security across the country.

Lawmakers approved the Executive Bill during Thursday’s plenary after withdrawing their own constitutional amendment on the same issue. The move aligns the House with the Senate, which had earlier passed its version of the proposal.

The State Police Bill marks a significant step in Nigeria’s plan to decentralise policing and improve responses to rising insecurity. Supporters argue that state-controlled police forces could respond more quickly to local threats, including banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.

However, the proposal still requires the constitutional amendment process to be completed before it can take full effect. If approved, Nigeria would adopt a dual policing system, with both federal and state police operating under constitutional safeguards.

The passage of the State Police Bill is one of the most significant security reforms under consideration in recent years as authorities seek new ways to tackle persistent security challenges.