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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

US lawmaker hails Tinubu, Reps over passage of State Police Bill

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A U.S. lawmaker, Riley Moore, praised Nigeria's House of Representatives for passing a bill allowing states to establish their own police forces.
  • Moore stated the bill is a crucial step toward addressing insecurity and the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
  • The bill requires further approval from the Senate, state assemblies, and the president to become law.

U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore has lauded Nigeria's House of Representatives for passing a bill that permits individual states to establish and operate their own police forces. Moore described the legislation as a pivotal move to combat insecurity and the alleged persecution of Christians within the country.

Thankful to see that Nigeria’s House of Representatives passed this important policy that I’ve been calling for since @POTUS first asked me to investigate the genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

— Riley MooreThe U.S. lawmaker expressing his satisfaction with the passage of the state police bill.

The bill, which passed with a significant majority of 289 votes in favor, one against, and one abstention, aims to decentralize policing power. Currently, Nigeria relies on a single federal police force. If enacted, the law would allow the nation's 36 states to create and manage their own law enforcement agencies, complementing the existing Federal Nigeria Police Force.

Moore, who has been an outspoken advocate on Nigeria's security issues, expressed gratitude for the development, noting it aligns with his long-standing calls for such reform. He mentioned raising the issue directly with Nigerian officials, including the First Lady during her visit to Washington. "Ensuring states can protect their own citizens is a critical step toward ending the persecution of Christians and the overall instability in Nigeria," Moore stated.

Ensuring states can protect their own citizens is a critical step toward ending the persecution of Christians and the overall instability in Nigeria.

— Riley MooreThe lawmaker explaining the importance of the state police bill for Nigeria's security and religious freedom.

He also commended Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for his support of the proposal, recognizing his role in urging its passage through the parliament. While acknowledging the progress, Moore emphasized that the reform process is ongoing and requires further steps, including ratification by at least 24 state assemblies and presidential assent, before state-level police forces can be fully implemented.

President Tinubu deserves credit for supporting this legislation and urging its passage through Nigeria’s parliament.

— Riley MooreThe U.S. lawmaker acknowledging President Tinubu's role in advancing the state police bill.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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