Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly don endorse establishment of state police for Nigeria, and dem urge all 36 State Houses of Assembly to quick quick consider and approve the Constitution Alteration Bill on state policing for national interest. The lawmakers show support during plenary after Majority Leader, Noheem Adams, move motion titled “Support for the Establishment of State Police in Nigeria” yesterday.
Moving the motion, Adams say the proposed legislation align with Federal Government efforts to decentralise policing to tackle insecurity more better, strengthen Nigeria security architecture and improve protection of lives and property across the country. Supporting the motion, Speaker of the House, Dr Mudashiru Obasa, say establishing state police go significantly strengthen Nigeria security framework and boost efforts to combat kidnapping, terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.
For related development, the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Northern States Traditional Rulers Council don commence strategic meeting for Kaduna on how to tackle challenges facing the region, prominent among which na insecurity. For im welcome address, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, say for many years, governors across party lines don advocate policing architecture wey go more responsive to local realities and better equipped to address contemporary security challenges. Sani state that the ongoing constitutional amendment process for creation of state police represent defining moment for Nigeria democratic evolution.
Following approval of the State Police Bill, the Southwest Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG) and the Oodua Unity Group (OUG) don hail the National Assembly, describing approval as significant legislative milestone wey fit enhance security management across the federation. Rising from joint meeting wey dem hold at palace of Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, yesterday, to address growing concerns about security situation for Southwest region, dem hail the decision as positive step towards empowering states to take more direct control of their security challenges, thereby fostering more localised and effective responses.
For statement wey SSSG Publicity Secretary, Ireti Adewole and OUG Secretary, Kola Aare sign together, the groups note that while citizens dey await state police to come into full operation across the country, e important for state security apparatus to cooperate with private security-relevant groups to totally overcome the security challenges. The SSSG, wey Gani Adams lead, include Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Agbekoya Society, Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Professional Hunters Association, Odua Warriors, Vigilante Jahun, Agbekoya Peace Movement, Agbekoya Solidarity Movement, COMSAIC, Isokan Ile Oodua, Egbe Obinrin Oodua Agbaye, and Omo Oduduwa United, among others, wey all get structures for grassroots for all local government areas across the region.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, don explain the association decision to participate for newly inaugurated Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, saying the NBA dey committed to help develop legal safeguards wey go address public concerns over proposed creation of state police. Speaking on Channels Television Politics Today on Wednesday, Osigwe say the NBA no go shy away from contributing to policy and legislative initiatives wey aim to strengthen governance and improve national security.
According to am, while the association don often raise concerns about government actions, e remain equally committed to constructive engagement and nation-building. Osigwe note that opposition to state police historically don dey driven by fears that governors fit abuse the system, turning state-controlled police forces into political tools for oppression. However, e say worsening insecurity across parts of the country don make many Nigerians reconsider their position and embrace the need for decentralised policing structure.
“There is initially an aversion to creation of state police, the fear being that it will be abused by state governors, it will be politicized and they will become like an official tool of oppression. But then, with the worsening state of insecurity in some parts of Nigeria, most Nigerians now agree that the national police system cannot work, that there is a need for a state police. But in having it, to address the fears which in the first place made it difficult for us to have state police, we have to ensure that the right constitutional structures are put in place,” Osigwe yarn.
“An NBA has nothing against the government per se, it wants the government that respects the rule of law and does the right thing. And if in this process the NBA has been given an opportunity to contribute to drafting laws that will ensure that these fears are addressed, that will enact laws that will make a better policing system in Nigeria, the NBA cannot run away from that. We may criticise but we should be willing to also constructively engage and contribute to building a better society.”
Osigwe comments come one day after President Bola Tinubu inaugurate the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, a key step towards establishing the legal framework for implementation of state police across Nigeria. According to statement by the President Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu, wey im Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila represent, inaugurate the committee at the Presidential Villa for Abuja.
The inauguration follow the National Assembly passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, wey propose dual policing structure wey consist of Federal Police Service and 36 State Police Services. The Presidency say while the constitutional amendment provide framework for state policing, the proposed National Policing Bill go establish the legal and operational structures wey dem need for implementation. According to Onanuga, the legislation dey expected to address critical issues wey necessary for smooth take-off and effective operation of state police services across the federation.
The NBA dey represented on the committee through im president, alongside other key stakeholders, including the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Chairman of the NGF Committee on State Police. Secretariat don also establish to provide administrative support to the committee as e undertake im assignment of developing the legal framework for the proposed state policing system.
