The Constitution Amendment Bill proposing the introduction of state police has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives.
Sponsored by 13 members of the House, the bill gained support from a majority of lawmakers who believe that addressing the current state of insecurity takes precedence over concerns about potential political victimization by state governors.
The move towards state police has gained momentum, with President Bola Tinubu and 36 state governors recently considering it as a solution to the prevalent security challenges, including kidnapping and banditry.
The quest for state police has been a long-standing issue, and previous attempts to introduce it during the Seventh National Assembly were unsuccessful.
Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recently reiterated the importance of state policing, emphasizing its potential to address the country’s worsening security situation.
Regional groups like Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum, and the Northern Elders’ Forum have also advocated for state police to solve the growing security challenges.
