State Police Bill Passes House of Reps, But The Hard Part Is Just Beginning

The House of Representatives has passed the constitutional amendment bill to establish state police in Nigeria. This is a significant step, moving policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, which would allow states to create and control their own police forces. Lawmakers argued this is necessary to address worsening insecurity — terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and violent crime — that the current centralised system has clearly failed to contain.

But before anyone celebrates, let us be clear about what remains. The Senate must still approve this bill. Then at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly must endorse it. And finally, presidential assent is required. That is a long road with many opportunities for political interests to derail it. The same lawmakers who voted yes today may face pressure from governors who do not want opposition-controlled states having their own police forces.

What worries me more is the implementation. Even if this bill becomes law, will state governments have the funding, the training infrastructure, and the political will to run professional police forces? Or will we simply create 36 new platforms for abuse and extortion? The Senate also ordered the arrest of bandits flaunting cash on TikTok today, which shows how far impunity has gone. State police might help, but only if we get the governance right first.