During Tuesday’s session, the House of Representatives passed a bill for second reading, aiming to establish state police in Nigeria.
Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, along with 14 others, the bill proposes amendments to relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to enable states to form their own police forces.
As discussions unfolded on the House floor, Kalu, standing in for Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, implored members to prioritize the safety of Nigerians over political interests.
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Contributing to the debate, Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos) emphasized the necessity of addressing Nigeria’s internal security challenges.
He noted the disproportion between Nigeria’s population of over 200 million people and its police force, which currently stands at less than 400,000 officers, highlighting the need for the creation of state police to bolster law enforcement efforts.
Further details on the bill’s progress will be provided later.
