Nigeria Senate Passes Bill for State Police, Citing Safeguards Against Abuse

Nigeria's Senate has passed a constitutional amendment bill to establish both federal and state police services across the country. This landmark legislation aims to transition Nigeria from its current unitary policing system to a federal model, intended to bolster internal security and better address localized security concerns.

The bill, passed after extensive consideration by the Committee of the Whole, seeks to replace the existing Nigeria Police Force structure with a Federal Police Service and State Police Services. The amendment allows states to establish their own police forces, provided they adhere to national minimum standards set by the National Assembly.

To prevent potential misuse by state governors, the bill incorporates robust safeguards. Governors' directives to state police will be limited to lawful public safety and order matters. They are explicitly barred from ordering the arrest, investigation, detention, or use of force against any individual, political party, or group outside legal provisions. The legislation also prohibits state police from engaging in partisan or discriminatory persecution and allows for judicial and oversight body review of any questionable directives.

Furthermore, the bill empowers the Federal Government to intervene in state police operations under specific circumstances, such as public order breakdowns or threats to national security. Such interventions must be temporary, necessary, proportionate, and subject to judicial review. The Federal Police Service will handle federal crimes, terrorism, and national security matters, while state police will enforce state laws and local crime prevention.