The National Assembly has defended its decision to accord significant attention to the proposed establishment of state police in the ongoing constitutional review process, arguing that Nigeria’s worsening security situation demands urgent and far-reaching reforms to the country’s policing architecture.
Leading senators involved in the constitution amendment exercise have dismissed concerns that lawmakers are focusing disproportionately on state police at the expense of other critical constitutional reforms, insisting that the proposal has emerged as a priority because of the growing threats posed by banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, communal clashes and other forms of violent crime across the country.
The clarification comes amid heightened public discourse over the constitutional amendment process, with some stakeholders expressing concern that issues such as electoral reforms, fiscal federalism, local government autonomy, judicial reforms and devolution of powers appear to be receiving less public attention than the state police debate.
Responding to the concerns, Senate Leader and Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the prominence being accorded to state police reflects the reality of the country’s current security challenges rather than any attempt to sideline other amendment proposals.
Speaking through the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Bamidele stressed that security remains the most pressing concern confronting Nigerians and, as such, requires immediate legislative attention.
According to him, the 10th National Assembly cannot afford to treat the issue of state police as an ordinary constitutional matter when communities across the federation continue to grapple with attacks, abductions and other criminal activities.
“The issue of state police has become a national imperative because insecurity remains one of the biggest challenges facing our country today. Nigerians expect practical solutions, and the National Assembly has a responsibility to respond to those expectations,” he stated.
The Senate Leader noted that discussions on state police have evolved beyond political rhetoric and have become part of broader efforts to strengthen internal security, improve intelligence gathering and enhance rapid response mechanisms at the sub-national level.
He explained that many security experts, traditional rulers, civil society groups and state governments have repeatedly argued that the current centralised policing structure is overstretched and may no longer be sufficient to effectively address emerging security threats in a country as large and diverse as Nigeria.
Bamidele added that constitutional review hearings conducted across the country revealed strong public interest in policing reforms, making it difficult for lawmakers to ignore the issue.
“The security of lives and property remains the foundation upon which every other aspect of national development depends. Without security, meaningful economic growth and social stability become difficult to achieve,“ he said.
Also reacting to the debate, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dismissed suggestions that other constitutional amendment proposals had been abandoned.
Moro maintained that the Constitution Review Committee continues to examine a wide range of issues submitted by Nigerians and that state police is only one component of a much broader constitutional reform agenda.
According to him, the visibility of discussions around state policing should not be interpreted as neglect of other important reforms.
“It is not correct to say that other proposals have been abandoned. The Constitution Review Committee is considering numerous issues that were raised by Nigerians during consultations and public hearings across the country,” Moro said.
The Benue South senator noted that constitutional amendment is a comprehensive process involving multiple thematic areas, including electoral reforms, judiciary independence, local government administration, resource control, revenue allocation and institutional strengthening.
He explained that lawmakers are working to ensure that all legitimate concerns raised by citizens receive adequate consideration before the final amendment package is presented.
The renewed push for state police has generated intense debate among political leaders, security experts and civil society organisations.
Supporters argue that decentralised policing would enable state governments to respond more effectively to local security challenges, improve intelligence gathering and strengthen community policing initiatives.
However, critics have expressed fears that state police could be abused by governors for political purposes, particularly during elections and periods of political tension.
Despite these concerns, advocates of the proposal insist that appropriate constitutional safeguards, oversight mechanisms and accountability structures can be built into the system to prevent abuse while improving security delivery.
As the constitutional review process progresses, the issue of state police is expected to remain one of the most closely watched reforms, with many observers viewing it as a potential turning point in Nigeria’s efforts to address persistent security challenges.
The outcome of the debate could significantly shape the future structure of law enforcement in the country and determine how responsibilities for internal security are shared between the federal and state governments.
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