A bill proposing the establishment of state police and the transfer of certain policing powers to state governments on Thursday passed its second reading in the Senate.

The move represents a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to restructure Nigeria’s security framework and introduce state-level policing.

Following the debate, the bill was referred by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further legislative consideration.

Leading the discussion, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described the proposal as a key reform aimed at strengthening internal security, amid concerns over the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force to effectively respond to emerging security threats.

He noted that state police would enhance intelligence gathering, arguing that locally recruited officers are better positioned to understand community languages, customs, and social structures.

“Modern policing relies heavily on intelligence rather than force. State police will significantly strengthen Nigeria’s intelligence architecture,” he said.

Bamidele also highlighted Nigeria’s growing security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflicts, cultism, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism, communal clashes, and cybercrime.

According to him, the increasingly localised nature of these threats has intensified public demand for decentralised policing, as many believe the current centralised system is no longer sufficient to address security needs across the country.

He added that he sponsored the bill as part of broader efforts to modernise Nigeria’s security architecture and strengthen cooperative federalism.

Also speaking during the debate, Senate Chief Whip Senator Tahir Monguno supported the proposal, saying it could help regulate the growing number of vigilante groups nationwide.

He added that the bill would provide a legal framework for establishing and operating state police, ensuring accountability and proper regulation.

Earlier the same day, the House of Representatives also approved the State Police Bill, marking another major step toward decentralising Nigeria’s policing structure.