Benue gov hails National Assembly over passage of state police bill

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has lauded the National Assembly for passing the State Police Bill, describing it as a "courageous and timely step." The legislation, which seeks to establish a state policing structure to operate concurrently with the federal system, has been a long-advocated measure for strengthening Nigeria's security architecture.

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the passage of the bill is a courageous and timely step

Alia emphasized that state police would foster closer ties with local communities, enabling quicker responses to security threats due to a better understanding of local dynamics. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his leadership in reforming the country's security framework, a topic of national discourse for years. The governor assured Benue residents of his administration's continued investment in security to guarantee peace and prosperity.

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The House of Representatives had passed the law a few weeks ago, and the concurrence by the Senate a few days ago has confirmed the genuine intentions of national assembly members to address the problem of insecurity in the country.

The Senate's passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill on Wednesday signifies a major advancement in Nigeria's decades-long discussion on decentralizing policing to combat escalating insecurity. The bill, approved after a clause-by-clause consideration, received overwhelming support from senators. It empowers state governments to establish and maintain police services within their jurisdictions, while the Nigeria Police Force retains national security responsibilities.

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The Senate on Wednesday passed the landmark Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police across the federation, marking a major step in Nigeria’s decades-long debate over decentralising the country’s policing structure to address worsening insecurity.