Nigeria’s parliament approved a constitutional bill on Thursday that would allow each of the country’s 36 states to create and operate its own police force alongside the federal Nigeria Police Force. The reform, long debated, aims to tackle the country’s growing security challenges.
Supporters, including President Bola Tinubu, argue that decentralised policing is essential for responding more effectively to localised threats such as insurgency, mass kidnappings, communal violence and oil theft.
The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favour of the bill, with the Senate expected to pass it later on Thursday. The measure now requires ratification by at least two-thirds of state assemblies before it can take effect.
The legislation enjoys cross-party support and marks a major shift from decades of centralised policing controlled from Abuja.
Nigeria’s security landscape varies sharply by region: jihadist insurgency dominates the northeast; banditry and kidnappings affect the northwest and north-central areas; separatist-linked attacks occur in the southeast; and oil theft persists in the Niger Delta.
State governors have long argued that they are held responsible for security yet lack operational control over local police. Advocates of state forces say decentralisation could improve emergency response times, strengthen intelligence, and deploy officers familiar with local communities.
"Nigeria's centralised policing model slows emergency responses because states lack direct control," said Ayomide Akinwale, analyst at SBM Intelligence.
In May, gunmen abducted dozens of students and teachers in Oyo and Borno states, underscoring the reach of criminal and insurgent networks. Tinubu has promised increased federal police recruitment, giving momentum to the reform, which has stalled in previous attempts due to political differences.
Critics, however, warn that state police could be misused for political purposes, target minorities, or struggle with funding, training, and coordination, particularly in poorer states.
A known Islamist suspected of driving a minivan into a crowd near a major LGBTQ Pride gathering in Berlin was shot dead during a police operation at a...
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior ...
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham "will always put Britain's interests first", he told the BBC in an interview when asked whether he was willi...
Russian authorities said 11 people, including four children, had been killed by Ukraine in an overnight attack on a holiday camp, accusing Kyiv on Saturday of deliberately targeting civilians.
The U.S. military said it completed a fresh wave of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. The latest operation lasted more than two hours, according to U.S. Central Command.
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
Six candidates vying to become the next United Nations Secretary-General have called for restoring the organisation's credibility, strengthening multilateralism and reforming the UN, during the first public town hall debate ahead of a decisive Security Council vote next week.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 25th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A known Islamist suspected of driving a minivan into a crowd near a major LGBTQ Pride gathering in Berlin was shot dead during a police operation at an allotment garden complex, broadcaster RBB reported on Sunday.
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham "will always put Britain's interests first", he told the BBC in an interview when asked whether he was willing to call out U.S. President Donald Trump.
Uzbekistan captain Eldor Shomurodov has been shortlisted for the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament award at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with his strike against DR Congo named among the competition’s 12 best goals. The nomination places the Uzbek forward alongside some of world football’s biggest stars.
Firefighters battled on Sunday to contain wildfires threatening the outskirts of Bordeaux, as authorities expanded evacuation orders and warned the blazes were spreading rapidly during an intense heatwave across southern Europe.
Rescue teams were searching on Sunday for 17 people still missing after a Vietnamese cargo ship sank in the South China Sea, with 45 crew members rescued since the vessel sent out a distress signal the previous evening.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment