The Enugu State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of state police.
During plenary, the member representing Ezeagu Constituency, Chima Obieze, described the proposed amendment as a “game-changer” that had come at the right time.
Obieze said establishing state police would decentralise Nigeria’s policing system and improve the protection of lives and property across the state.
He expressed optimism that decentralisation would strengthen security, improve responses to threats in local communities and enable the police to tackle local security challenges more effectively.
Also contributing, the member representing Nkanu East Constituency, Okey Mbah, argued that state police would help curb violence and attacks by herders in different parts of the state.
Citing the attack on Nimbo community, Mbah said security operatives had failed to respond effectively despite repeated warnings, contributing to the loss of lives.
He argued that a decentralised policing system could improve intelligence gathering and responses to security threats, particularly attacks on farming communities.
The member representing Enugu East Constituency, Osita Okoh, said the bill presented an opportunity to advance longstanding calls for reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture.
He said the proposed system would give governors greater practical authority to address security challenges in their states in their capacity as chief security officers.
However, the member representing Igboeze South Constituency, Harrison Ogara, warned that state police formations could be used to intimidate political opponents if adequate safeguards were not established.
Ogara stressed the need for effective oversight mechanisms to prevent political interference and ensure that state police personnel operated professionally and in accordance with the law.
He also raised concerns about funding and control, saying the proposed system would require clear accountability structures and sustainable financing arrangements to operate effectively.
