House of Representatives Advances Bill for State Police Establishment

The House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards the establishment of state police in Nigeria by passing a bill for its second reading.

Sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 14 others, the bill aims to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to enable states to establish their own police forces.

During Tuesday’s plenary session, lawmakers engaged in a debate on the proposed legislation, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the safety and security of Nigerians.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, standing in for Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, urged fellow members to rise above political considerations and focus on enhancing the country’s security infrastructure.

In his contribution, Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos) highlighted the need for additional measures to address Nigeria’s internal security challenges. With a population exceeding 200 million, Benson emphasized the disparity between the population size and the current police force strength, which stands at less than 400,000 officers. He advocated for the creation of state police forces to supplement existing security efforts and maintain law and order effectively.