State police bill endorsed by 84 senators - Senate

The Nigerian Senate has overwhelmingly endorsed a constitutional amendment to establish state police, a move supported by 84 of the 109 senators. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele championed the bill, emphasizing it is the culmination of years of consultations with various stakeholders, including the executive, state governors, and legislative leaders.

Bamidele dismissed claims of partisan motives, asserting that public hearings across the country in July 2025 revealed widespread support for the decentralization of policing. He highlighted that opposition legislators also participated in the process, voting in favor of the initiative in the national interest. The Senate leader noted that the current federal policing structure is strained by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and farmer-herder clashes.

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The state police bill was subjected to intense debates at the Senate and House of Representatives. Even though the All Progressives Congress is the majority party, opposition legislators actively took part in the process that approved the state police initiative.

The proposed amendment clarifies the roles of federal and state police. The federal police will retain responsibility for national security matters like counter-terrorism, cybercrime, and border security. State police will enforce state laws, maintain public order, and prevent crime within their jurisdictions. The bill also includes safeguards to prevent governors from abusing state police powers. However, concerns persist among critics who fear the potential misuse of state police forces for political intimidation.

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In the Senate, for instance, 84 out of 109 members voted clause by clause in support of the Bill. This accounted for 77.06 per cent approval at the Senate alone.