The Lagos State House of Assembly has endorsed the proposed establishment of state police, insisting that state governments should retain full authority over the administration of their police services to effectively tackle Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
The position was adopted during plenary on Wednesday, where lawmakers expressed support for the ongoing constitutional amendment process aimed at creating state police.
Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, commended President Bola Tinubu, the Senate and the House of Representatives for advancing the Constitution Alteration Bill on state police, describing the initiative as a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
Obasa, however, called for clearer constitutional provisions specifying the circumstances under which the Federal Government can intervene in the operations of state police formations.
He argued that state governors should be empowered to appoint Commissioners of State Police, subject to confirmation by their respective State Houses of Assembly, while senior police officers should also undergo legislative screening.
“States should retain full authority over the administration of their police services, including recruitment, appointments and operational matters. The solution is to enact strong laws that guarantee accountability and prevent abuse, rather than reject the establishment of state police,” Obasa said.
The Assembly also dismissed concerns that state police could be used for political purposes, noting that similar criticisms have been levelled against the existing centrally controlled policing system.
Earlier, the member representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I, Stephen Ogundipe, moved a motion supporting the establishment of state police, observing that the Constitution Alteration Bill had already secured the necessary approval at the National Assembly.
The lawmakers unanimously called on the 36 State Houses of Assembly to expedite consideration of the constitutional amendment to enable its passage and implementation.
According to the Assembly, the creation of state police would complement the Nigeria Police Force, improve community policing and enhance the capacity of states to respond more effectively to local security challenges.
The push for state police has gained momentum in recent years amid growing concerns over insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal violence. Supporters argue that decentralising policing will improve intelligence gathering, response time and accountability, while critics have called for constitutional safeguards to prevent political interference and abuse of the proposed state-controlled police formations.
