Senate Leader: State Police Can’t Wait as Insecurity Deepens

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has strongly defended the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria, asserting that the constitutional amendment bill is a necessary response to the nation's escalating insecurity, not a politically motivated move. Bamidele emphasized that the proposal enjoys nationwide consensus and significant legislative support.

Reacting to public debate surrounding the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, Bamidele stated that the initiative stems from years of consultations with critical stakeholders. He urged that the matter not be reduced to partisan politics, noting the Senate's passage of the bill on June 24 as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process. Public feedback, he observed, indicates widespread acceptance of the proposal's potential to enhance security at state and community levels.

Bamidele addressed concerns that state police could be misused by governors against political opponents or that Nigeria is not ready for such a system, referencing fears of past regional policing excesses. He assured that these issues were carefully considered during the legislative process, incorporating institutional safeguards. The campaign for state police, he explained, originated from memoranda submitted during constitutional review processes, not recent political maneuvering.

Extensive consultations were conducted with the executive arm, the Nigeria Governors' Forum, state Speakers, and the Nigeria Police Force leadership before the bill was presented. Public hearings across the country's six geopolitical zones in July 2025 reportedly showed overwhelming support, with participants viewing state police as a practical solution to rising insecurity. The Nigeria Police Force also formally backed the initiative, providing recommendations for accountability mechanisms to prevent abuse.

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Bamidele says proposal enjoys nationwide consensus, overwhelming legislative backing