“Governors, lawmakers shouldn’t be afraid of state police” – Godswill Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has assured Nigerians that there is no need to fear the establishment of state police, urging governors and state lawmakers to support the proposed reform.

Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Akpabio called on senators to back the State Police Amendment Bill transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He described the moment as historic, noting that Nigeria has lacked the political will to decentralise policing since independence in 1960.

“Your constituents will be looking at you and they’ll be interested in what you say. Since 1960, Nigeria did not have the courage to decentralise policing and this is the first time,” Akpabio said.

The Senate President assured that the legislature will build adequate safeguards into the law to prevent abuse.

He explained that the reform will be implemented in two phases: through constitutional amendment and via an Act of Parliament that will spell out operational modalities.

“Many of us would like to go back home after we are through here without being afraid of state police,” he said.

Akpabio added that even current governors who will eventually leave office should have no fear of the system they helped create.

“There will be a lot of safeguards and it is you that will make those observations,” he told his colleagues.