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The Kogi State House of Assembly has passed a bill to establish state police in Nigeria, following strong support from lawmakers during Tuesday’s plenary.
The Speaker, Aliyu Umar Yusuf, described the session as significant. He said the support showed the state’s position on the proposed constitutional amendment.
Yusuf said the debate over state police had continued for decades. He noted that individuals, civil society organisations and other groups had repeatedly called for state police to strengthen Nigeria’s security system.
He said the growing threats to public safety had increased the need for stronger security measures, despite efforts by existing agencies.
“Most importantly, Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), provides that ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,’” Yusuf said.
He added that insecurity was not unique to Nigeria. However, he said the country needed to respond to rising cases of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflicts, political thuggery and other crimes.
Yusuf explained that President Bola Tinubu had proposed a constitutional amendment to allow states to establish their own police forces. He said the National Assembly had considered the bill and passed it through both chambers before sending it to state assemblies for consideration and voting.
According to the Speaker, state police would allow states to recruit officers with a better understanding of local security challenges. He said this would help them support the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in protecting lives and property.
Yusuf also said state police could improve response times and reduce bureaucratic delays that sometimes affect police operations. Beyond security, he said the proposal could create jobs for young Nigerians and help reduce unemployment.
He urged lawmakers to support the constitutional amendment, saying their decision would show commitment to protecting residents of Kogi State and improving national security. During the debate, lawmakers who supported the bill said state police could help address insecurity across the country and create employment opportunities.
However, they urged the executive to ensure adequate funding and training for officers. They also stressed the need for professional standards in recruiting and operating state police forces.
The bill’s passage by the Kogi Assembly forms part of the state-level consideration of the proposed constitutional amendment. Establishing state police would require completing the constitutional amendment process before states could operate their own forces.
