During Tuesday’s plenary session, the House of Representatives took a significant step forward in addressing the nation’s security challenges by passing a bill for second reading, aimed at establishing state police across the country.
Spearheaded by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, alongside 14 other lawmakers, the bill proposes amendments to relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to facilitate the creation of policing agencies at the state level.
As deliberations unfolded on the floor of the House, Kalu, standing in for Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, emphasized the paramount importance of prioritizing the safety and security of all Nigerians above political interests. He urged fellow lawmakers to transcend political ambitions and focus on the collective well-being of the nation.
Echoing similar sentiments, Babajimi Benson of the APC representing Lagos stressed the necessity of bolstering law enforcement efforts to maintain order and security in a country with a population exceeding 200 million. He underscored the glaring disparity between the population size and the current police force strength, which stands at less than 400,000. Benson advocated for the establishment of state police as a crucial measure to effectively tackle Nigeria’s internal security challenges.
The discussions surrounding the bill reflect a growing recognition among lawmakers of the imperative to enhance Nigeria’s security apparatus to better safeguard the lives and property of its citizens. If enacted into law, the establishment of state police could mark a significant stride towards addressing the prevailing security concerns gripping the nation.