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Nigerian Senate defends passage of state police bill, citing national consensus and security needs

The Nigerian Senate has defended its passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alteration State Police Bill, 2026, stating that the creation of state police is driven by national consensus and the country’s security needs, not political considerations. The Red Chamber passed the bill on Wednesday after more than two-thirds of senators voted in support. While many stakeholders, including speakers of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, have welcomed the passage, some groups have raised concerns about potential worsening insecurity and abuse by governors. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Leader, described the bill as a "child of necessity" and a "product of national consensus." He explained that the proposal emerged from memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution and underwent extensive consultations with the Executive, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Police. Public hearings held across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025 showed overwhelming support for state police. Recommendations from the Nigeria Police, particularly on accountability and oversight mechanisms, were incorporated to prevent abuse. Bamidele noted the bill received broad bipartisan backing in both chambers of the National Assembly, with 84 out of 109 senators voting in favor. He emphasized that national security should transcend political affiliations and called on opposi