House of Reps Approves State Police Bill

The House of Representatives has passed the State Police Bill, a key legislative move aimed at restructuring policing in Nigeria and strengthening responses to rising insecurity across the country.

The bill was approved on Thursday during plenary after receiving overwhelming support from lawmakers. A total of 289 members voted in favour of the proposal in a session presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

The legislation seeks to decentralise the country’s policing structure by allowing states to establish and manage their own police forces alongside the federal police system. Lawmakers say the reform is intended to improve security response time, enhance local intelligence gathering, and address the growing scale of violent crimes in different regions.

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Thursday’s sitting was dedicated entirely to deliberations on the bill, reflecting the urgency attached to security concerns in the country. In recent months, several parts of Nigeria have witnessed increased incidents of kidnappings, armed banditry, and rural attacks, putting pressure on federal institutions to explore new security frameworks.

Supporters of the bill argued that a centralised policing system has struggled to effectively manage Nigeria’s diverse and widespread security challenges. They maintained that state-controlled police structures would be better positioned to understand local dynamics and respond more quickly to emerging threats.

The approval by the lower chamber marks a significant milestone, but the proposal still requires further legislative concurrence and other constitutional processes before it can become law. Attention now shifts to the next stages of consideration, including possible deliberations in the Senate and engagement with state stakeholders.

Security reform has remained a recurring issue in national discourse, with governors, lawmakers, and civil society groups repeatedly calling for a review of the current policing arrangement. The passage of the bill by the House signals renewed momentum toward addressing those concerns through constitutional amendment.

If eventually enacted, the legislation could represent one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s internal security structure in decades, reshaping how law enforcement is organised and deployed across the federation.