State Police Bill Gets Approval From 24 States As 12 Others Stall
Twenty-four states have approved the proposed State Police Bill, meeting the constitutionally required threshold for the measure to advance, while 12 states are yet to conclude deliberations on the proposal.
The development brings the bill closer to becoming law, as the required endorsement of at least 24 state Houses of Assembly has now been secured.
Vanguard gathered that more states are expected to conclude deliberations on the bill next week.
24 States That Have Approved the Bill
The 24 states reported to have approved the proposed legislation are:
- Adamawa
- Delta
- Edo
- Kwara
- Nasarawa
- Ogun
- Osun
- Oyo
- Plateau
- Rivers
- Taraba
- Zamfara
- Enugu
- Anambra
- Imo
- Ekiti
- Kebbi
- Akwa Ibom
- Bayelsa
- Benue
- Cross River
- Abia
- Yobe
- Kaduna
12 States Yet to Approve the Bill
The states still being awaited are:
- Lagos
- Ondo
- Ebonyi
- Kogi
- Niger
- Borno
- Gombe
- Bauchi
- Jigawa
- Katsina
- Kano
- Sokoto
The outcome of deliberations in the remaining states is expected to determine whether further endorsements will be recorded as the process progresses.
The proposed establishment of state police has remained a major issue in Nigeria’s security debate, with supporters arguing that decentralising policing could improve responses to local security challenges.