The Anambra State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the establishment of state police, adopting the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, as passed by the National Assembly.
The bill was adopted during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, following its consideration.
The lawmakers adopted the bill through a voice vote.
Speaking after the adoption, Udeze said the House had fulfilled its constitutional responsibility and directed the Clerk of the House to transmit the resolution to the National Assembly.
The Speaker explained that the bill seeks to provide a constitutional framework for the establishment of state police services, subject to the Constitution and national minimum policing standards prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.
The proposed framework provides safeguards for civilian oversight, human rights protection, national minimum policing standards, an independent Police Service Commission, intergovernmental cooperation, criminal information systems and firearms control.
It also provides for exceptional federal intervention in state policing in cases involving a breakdown of policing, serious incapacity, threats to national security or egregious abuses.
Speaking to Angel Network News (ANN) in an interview after plenary, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme, described state police as necessary, arguing that many security challenges originate at the grassroots.
Ofodeme disagreed with critics who fear that state police could be abused, saying the arrangement would enable state authorities to respond more quickly to security threats instead of waiting for directives from the Inspector-General of Police.
According to him, the establishment of state police would strengthen efforts to tackle insecurity and create employment opportunities for young people.
He added that it could reduce the pressure on the military, which is frequently deployed to support the police in addressing internal security challenges.
The Majority Leader further suggested that local vigilantes could be integrated into the policing system and given appropriate training to improve community-level security.
He maintained that a state police structure would bring policing closer to the people and improve the speed of security responses.
