ABUJA, Nigeria — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has expressed support for the establishment of state police in Nigeria but has demanded robust constitutional safeguards to prevent abuse by governors and protect citizens from potential exploitation.
The Kogi Central senator made her position known amid ongoing debates over the constitutional amendment bill seeking to create state police forces across the federation. She described the reform as necessary for improving security, but warned that without adequate legal protections, the new structure could become a tool of political oppression.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who has been at the forefront of the legislative process, had previously warned that the proposed state police system could be hijacked by politicians, business interests, private organisations, and even criminal elements if not properly funded. He stressed that “he who pays the piper dictates the tune,” adding that a weak funding structure would expose state police to undue influence.
Bamidele also noted that the constitutional amendment being considered was not meant to compel every state to immediately establish its own police force, but rather to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby giving states the constitutional power to create their own police services if they choose.
According to the Senate Leader, lawmakers must build adequate safeguards into the legal framework to prevent abuse and ensure accountability. He suggested that the law could provide for a fixed percentage of state budgets to be allocated to policing, with clear guidelines on how the funds would be accessed and managed.
Bamidele also stressed that the creation of state police would have limited impact without genuine local government autonomy. “If we do not address the issue of local government autonomy, we will not have achieved much, even with the creation of state police,” he added.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had also previously raised concerns about the implementation of state police during Senate debates, emphasising that the reform should not be rushed without adequate public consultation and legislative scrutiny.
The constitutional amendment bill, which has been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, now awaits ratification by at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can be forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for presidential assent. The Senate has continued to engage with the reform process, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio recently urging lawmakers to rededicate themselves to national service as the 10th Senate commenced its fourth legislative year.
The debate over state police comes amid growing calls for improved security across Nigeria, with many stakeholders arguing that the current centralised policing structure has been ineffective in addressing the country’s diverse security challenges. However, concerns over potential abuse remain a significant point of contention in the reform process.
