State Police Plan Gains Support in Nigeria

The Parliament Support Network has backed plans to introduce state police, saying it could improve grassroots safety and national security coordination.
The group reacted after the House of Representatives passed the State Police Bill, describing it as an important move in Nigeria’s security reform debate.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Executive Director Dr. Moses Onoja said the country’s current central policing system is under heavy pressure.
He pointed to rising cases of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal clashes as major challenges affecting national stability.

Onoja argued that state police could improve grassroots security in Nigeria by strengthening intelligence gathering and enabling faster responses to threats.
He also said it would help officers better understand local communities and their specific security needs, improving overall policing efficiency.

According to him, decentralising law enforcement would allow states to play a stronger role in protecting lives and property while still working with federal agencies.
He stressed that security reform in Nigeria must focus on practical and community-based solutions.

“State police will strengthen grassroots security and deepen the country’s ability to prevent and respond to crime. It is a reform whose time has come,” Onoja stated.

The House of Representatives passed the constitutional amendment with 288 members voting in support and only four opposing it, showing broad backing for the proposal.
Onoja said this level of support reflects growing agreement on the need for decentralised policing system reforms.

He urged the Senate, state assemblies and other stakeholders to approve the plan and ensure its inclusion in the Constitution.
He added that while state police may not solve all security problems immediately, it remains a key step towards improving public safety nationwide.

Onoja also called on Nigerians to support the initiative, saying the country needs stronger and more localised security structures.

How should Nigeria balance state police powers with national security control?