The Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating constitutional amendments that would pave the way for the establishment of state police as insecurity continues to worsen across Nigeria.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, said the upper legislative chamber was prepared to begin the constitutional processes required for the creation of state policing structures without delay.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Adaramodu stated that lawmakers were determined to provide the legislative backing necessary to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and address the growing threat posed by bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups.
According to him, the Senate would ensure that all required constitutional procedures receive urgent attention in order to enhance public safety and improve security operations across the country.
He explained that the Red Chamber remained committed to supporting the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in efforts aimed at confronting the nation’s escalating security challenges.
The renewed assurances from the Senate come amid rising public concern over persistent attacks, kidnappings and violent crimes in several parts of Nigeria, prompting intensified calls for the decentralisation of policing.
Only days earlier, the Senate disclosed that the constitutional process for state police had already commenced, signalling stronger legislative support for reforms designed to tackle banditry, abductions and related crimes.
The debate surrounding state policing gained fresh momentum following the abduction of pupils and teachers in parts of Oyo State, an incident that triggered widespread outrage and renewed questions about the effectiveness of the current centralised policing system.
The attack occurred on May 15 when armed men reportedly invaded three schools located in the Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities within Oriire Local Government Area, abducting several pupils and teachers.
The incident left affected families devastated and sparked nationwide demands for urgent reforms to Nigeria’s security framework, particularly regarding the protection of schools and rural communities.
Supporters of state police have consistently argued that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-based security operations and enable faster responses to criminal threats.
Advocates also believe that state-controlled police formations would complement existing federal security agencies and improve coordination in tackling crimes that have spread across different regions of the country.
However, the proposal for state police requires amendments to the Nigerian Constitution. Such amendments must secure approval from the National Assembly and receive endorsement from at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly before becoming law.
With the Senate reiterating its readiness to push the initiative forward, discussions on state policing are expected to intensify in the coming months as lawmakers and stakeholders search for lasting solutions to Nigeria’s security crisis.
