Twenty-four states have approved the proposed state police bill, meeting the constitutionally required endorsement benchmark for the legislation to advance, according to a report by Vanguard.
The development marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to establish state police in Nigeria, a proposal that has generated discussions around security management, policing responsibilities and the need to address the country’s security challenges.
Vanguard reports that the 24 states have completed the required approval process, while 12 other states are yet to conclude deliberations on the proposal. More states are expected to take a position next week.
The states that have approved the bill are Adamawa, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Zamfara, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Abia, Yobe and Kaduna.
Meanwhile, the states yet to conclude deliberations are Lagos, Ondo, Ebonyi, Kogi, Niger, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano and Sokoto.
The proposed state police system is part of broader discussions on restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture and strengthening responses to crimes at the state and community levels.
Supporters of state police have argued that allowing states to establish their own police forces could improve local intelligence gathering and enable security agencies to respond more quickly to threats. However, the proposal has also raised concerns about possible political interference, accountability and the potential misuse of state-controlled security agencies.
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With 24 states reportedly having endorsed the proposal, attention is now expected to shift to the next steps in the constitutional process and the positions of the remaining states.
Further deliberations are expected next week as states yet to approve the proposal continue to consider the bill.
