Senate passes State Police Bill, APC chieftain says it will boost local security
Senate passed the State Police Amendment Bill on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, joining the House of Representatives in approving the constitutional change. APC chieftain and former senator Ayodele Arise said the bill would give state governments the constitutional power to create and fund their own police forces, recruit personnel, and tackle insecurity locally.
He argued that state police, drawn from the communities they serve, know the terrain and people better than the federal police, allowing faster response to kidnapping and other crimes. Arise acknowledged fears of abuse by state governors but expressed confidence that the National Assembly will insert constitutional safeguards, noting that countries like the United States and Canada operate successful multi‑layered policing systems.
If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signs the bill, states will be able to establish police services subject to national minimum standards set by the National Assembly. Citizens should watch how states design their forces, what oversight mechanisms are put in place, and whether local security improves without enabling abuse. Will state police make your neighbourhood safer, or risk becoming tools for political repression?