Four States Approve State Police Bill – Tinubu’s Aide 

Four states have approved a proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police in Nigeria, according to Nnadubem Moghalu, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Planning and Research.

Moghalu, who is also the secretary of the presidential working group on the national policing bill, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a parliamentary lecture organised by the House of Representatives Press Corps.

He said Edo, Rivers, Osun and Oyo states had so far approved the bill as part of the constitutional process required to establish state police.

The proposed constitutional amendment needs the approval of at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before it can become part of the Constitution.

Moghalu explained that the constitutional amendment would provide the legal foundation for a policing system involving both the federal and state governments, while a separate national policing bill would provide the rules and structures needed to operate the system.

He said the process would continue until the required number of states approve the amendment.

The presidential aide also warned about the possible misuse of state police if proper safeguards were not put in place. He said governors must not be allowed to use state security agencies to harass or target political opponents.

He also raised concerns about situations where local majorities could use security agencies against minority groups, stressing the need for clear limits on the powers of state police and penalties for officials who abuse their authority.

Henry Nwawuba, Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, called for stronger legislative action to address the country’s security problems.

Nwawuba said lawmakers should move beyond expressing concern over victims of insecurity and focus more on developing laws and policies capable of addressing the challenges.

Ndudi Elumelu, a former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, also supported the proposed police reform but called for strong measures to prevent abuse.

He said the new system must be built around professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights. He also called for proper training, adequate funding and protection against political interference.

Akin Rotimi, spokesperson for the House of Representatives, who represented Speaker Tajudeen Abbas at the event, urged lawmakers and the media to examine the state police proposal based on its content and possible impact.

Rotimi said attention should be placed on the principles, provisions and likely consequences of the proposed reform rather than on the politicians or groups supporting it.

Grace Ike, Chairperson of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the Federal Capital Territory, also supported closer policing arrangements for communities.

She said a system that allows security agencies to operate closer to the people could help provide responses suited to local security problems.

However, she said such a system would only work properly if there were effective oversight, adequate funding and strong accountability measures to prevent abuse.

The push for state police is part of wider efforts to reform Nigeria’s security structure amid calls for a system that can respond more quickly to crimes and threats at the community and state levels. The proposed constitutional amendment must secure approval from the required number of state assemblies before the process can move to the next stage.